12 



brackish pools near the sea beach ; in some seasons, 

 though its numbers vary considerably, it is remark- 

 ably plentiful between Brighton and Worthing. I 

 have visited its favourite haunts on several occasions 

 during the last three years that I have been on 

 the south coast, but not a specimen have I met with. 



In March, 1871, I shot a single bird on the 

 Norfolk coast, near Horsey. 



The specimens in the case were obtained 

 partly at Portslade, in March, 1866, and the 

 remainder near Shoreharn, in April, 1870. 

 See "Kough Notes," Vol. I., Plate 31. 



MEADOW PIPIT. 



Case 17. 



This is one of the commonest of our British 

 birds. Although several of these Titlarks remain 

 with us through the winter, their numbers are con- 

 siderably augmented by fresh arrivals in the spring. 

 Any still foggy morning, from the middle of March 

 till well on in April, they may be noticed landing on 

 the south coast, singly and in small parties, from day- 

 break till nine or ten o'clock. For a day or two they 

 may be observed in numbers about the banks of 

 streams and salt-water pools near the sea beach ; 

 but with a change of weather, they soon proceed 

 inland and scatter themselves over the country. 



About October, there seems to be a general 

 movement of these birds along the south coast, 

 their line of flight being from east to west ; but 

 whether they are about to cross the Channel, or 

 what the object of their flight may be, I am unable 

 to say. 



The persecution that this unfortunate Pipit 

 undergoes from the various smaller Hawks in the 

 Highlands ought to tend to keep down their 

 numbers. Merlins, Sparrow Hawks and Harriers 

 all appear to have a special fancy for feeding their 



