206 BRITISH BIRDS, WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



" Occasionally occurs during the autumn within the Humber, either on the sea 

 embankments or along the borders of the marsh drains." 



This apparent discrepancy between the statements of Seebohm and Cordeaux 

 is explained by Howard Saunders, who observes : " generally frequenting, during 

 the breeding-season, those portions of the sea-coast which are of a rocky nature- 

 conditions which are not found between the Thames and Humber ; although during 

 autumn and winter it is found on salt-marshes and in the muddy estuaries where 

 there is sea- weed." 



The adult male in the spring is olive-brown above, streaked, excepting on the 

 rump, with dark-brown, the outer pair of tail-feathers is characterized by an oblique 

 smoky-grey patch on the inner web ; * an ill-defined buffish superciliary stripe ; 

 chin whitish ; remainder of under surface buff, warmer on the breast, and more 

 olivaceous on the flanks, which, together with the throat and breast, are streaked 

 with dark brown : bill deep brown, the lower mandible paler at the base ; feet 

 brown ; iris hazel. The female resembles the male. In the autumn the plumage 

 of the upper parts becomes more olivaceous and that of the under parts yellower. 

 The young are more heavily streaked on the flanks than adults. 



As I never had an opportunity of studying this bird in its wild haunts the 

 cliffs, rocks, and lowlands of our sea shores, and the desolate islands near our 

 coasts consequently I never personally took its nest ; it was therefore with great 

 pleasure that I examined a series of clutches of the eggs obtained at Uist, in May 

 1884, by Mr. T. Copeland, and forwarded by him to Mr. Harting. A clutch of 

 five eggs was consequently presented to me by Mr. Copeland. 



Gatke (The Birds of Heligoland) says that this species "is a solitary, serious 

 creature, little caring for the society either of members of its own or of other 

 species. While searching for food, it walks step by step, only rarely at an accel- 

 erated pace, over the sea-tang on the shore, or on the rocks and debris exposed at 

 low tide at the base of the cliff. It utters its call-note only when taking to flight, 

 a single call repeated after rather long pauses. The note is deeper and longer 

 drawn than that of the Meadow-Pipit, and has an agreeable sound, by no means 

 harsh like that of the Tree- Pipit ; if the bird is suddenly surprised, it often in 

 flying away utters its call two or three times in succession. It is by no means a 

 shy bird, and never flies very far ; if repeatedly disturbed while busy at the foot 

 of the cliff, it flits from one piece of rock to another, never more than fifteen or 

 twenty paces at a time, finally perching on a prominence half way up the face of 

 the cliff, where it will quietly wait until one has passed along underneath it, after 

 which it will resume its occupation on the shore." 



* In the Water-Pipit this patch is white. 



