HOCK-PIPIT 113 



to be seen on the sands and among the rocks ; but they are only 

 cMsual visitors in such places they are inland birds, that live and 

 breed in meadows, hedgerows, woods, and commons. The rock- 

 pipit is of the seashore exclusively, and everywhere inhabits the 

 coasts of Great Britain and Ireland where there are rocks and cliffs, 

 and all the rocky islands and islets in the neighbouring seas ; his 

 nest is not found nor his song heard out of sound of the ocean. In 

 summer he keeps very close to the sea, and his food then consists 

 principally of minute crustaceans and marine insects and worms ; 

 in the autumn and winter months he unites in small flocks, and 

 visits the salt-marshes and low grounds near the shore, and he then 

 feeds mostly on small seeds. His song, if heard at a distance from 

 the sea, would not be distinguished from that of the meadow-pipit ; 

 the action which accompanies the song is also the same in both 

 species. Occasionally he delivers his notes while sitting on a rock ; 

 but as a rule he soars up to a moderate height, either silent or else 

 repeating the first note of the song at regular intervals, then descends 

 with a slow, sliding flight to the earth, and descending emits his 

 best notes, short and simple, but with a melodious tinkling sound 

 which is very pleasant to listen to, especially when several indi- 

 viduals are heard at once. When intruded on in his rocky haunts, 

 or anxious for the safety of his young, his alarm-note, sharp yet 

 plaintive, closely resembles that of the meadow-pipit. The nest, 

 built in May, is carefully concealed among the rocks, beneath 

 a tuft of grass, or in a well-sheltered hole or crevice in the rock, and 

 is composed of small scraps of seaweed, dry grass, and moss, and 

 lined with fine dry grass or hair. Four or five eggs are laid, white 

 or pale bluish in ground-colour, thickly mottled with dull greyish 

 brown or reddish brown spots. 



Besides those described, three other species of Anthus have been 

 included among British birds. These are the tawny pipit (Anthus 

 campestris), Richard's pipit (Anthus richardi), and the water-pipit 

 (Anthus spipoletta). The first two are occasional visitors to the 

 south of England ; of the water-pipit, a very few specimens have 

 been obtained in different parts of the country. 



Two beautiful British birds, unfortunately not indigenous nor 

 regular in their visits to our country, may be mentioned in this 

 place. They represent two families : Oriolidue, which follows Mota- 

 cillidte (wagtails and pipits) ; and Ampelidae, which comes after 



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