PIPIT. INSESSORES. ANTHUS. 259 



It breeds very early, building in the clefts and on ledges of 

 the rocks. The nest is composed of bent and marine plants, Nest, &c. 

 lined with fine grass, and sometimes with hair. It lays four 

 or five eggs, of a pale yellowish-grey colour, with reddish- 

 brown spots, almost confluent at the larger end. It feeds Food. 

 on the smaller marine insects and worms. It is constantly 

 resident with us, and may be found at all seasons upon the 

 coast ; nor does it ever appear to congregate or remove in- 

 land, even during winter, or in the severest storms. 



PLATE 49- Fig. 6. Natural size. 



Bill dusky, with the upper mandible yellowish. Above General 

 the eye is a yellowish-white streak. Head oil-green, 

 tinged with brown; back and rump oil-green, tinged 

 with brown ; on the former, the shafts of the feathers 

 being a little darker. Lesser and greater wing-coverts 

 dusky, edged with pale oil-green ; quills the same ; tail 

 dusky ; the outer web, and part of the inner one of the 

 exterior feather, of a dirty or greenish-white. Throat 

 yellowish-white. Sides of the neck and breast greenish- 

 white, with brown streaks. Sides and thighs the same. 

 Belly yellowish- white, with a few dark brown streaks. 

 Legs brown. Hind claw curved, and three-eighth parts 

 of an inch in length. 



The female is very similar to the male bird in appearance. 



