THE CHATS. 305 



The fishermen in the province of Blekinge look upon the 

 rock pipit as a very useful bird, for the reason, that when the 

 water is low, it repairs to the bare rocks, and feeds on the 

 Grund-mdrla (Cancer pulex, Linn.), a crustacean, which is 

 so injurious to their nets, that during a long autumnal night 

 it will destroy them altogether. 



The female forms her nest on grass-grown ledges of rocks*; 

 but this, though in appearance pretty substantial, is so fragile, 

 that it falls to pieces at the least handling. She lays from 

 four to five eggs of a greyish-brown or greenish-brown colour, 

 marked with ash-brown spots ; and usually hatches in the 

 beginning of May. 



The Wheat-Ear (Sten-Sqvatta, Sw. ; Saxicola Oenanthe, 

 Bechst.) was very common with us ; as also over the whole 

 of the Scandinavian peninsula, from Scania to northern Lap- 

 land. It is found, not only on the lower grounds, but on 

 the fjalls far above the limits of arboreal vegetation ; at times, 

 indeed, immediately near to the regions of perpetual snow. 

 Though it generally breeds on the ground, amongst stones, 

 &c., M. Malm, when in Lapland, found its nest, in one 

 instance, in the hollow of a pine tree. Migrates. 



The Whin-Chat (Busk-Sqvatta, Sw. ; 8. Rubetra, 

 Bechst.) was likewise abundant in my vicinity. It is also 

 common throughout the length and breadth of the peninsula. 

 This bird, for the most part, frequents bushy districts and 

 the outskirts of woods ; but is not, like the wheat-ear, found 

 on the naked fjalls. Migrates. 



The Danish fauna includes a third species of the genus 

 Saxicola, namely the S. rubicola, Bechst. (Sylvia rubicola, 

 Lath.). Tt is, however, very scarce in Denmark. 



The Great Titmouse (Talg-Mes, Sw. ; Parus major, 



VOL. II. X 



