6 ALPIKE ACCENTOB. 



Epping Forest, in the county of Essex; and a third at Wells, 

 in Somersetshire, in 1833, in the garden of the Very Rev. 

 Dr. Goodenough, Dean of Wells; a fourth was seen by the 

 Rev. E. Lubbock, at Oulton, in Suffolk, in the year 1824, 

 about the month of March; and a fifth is said to have been 

 obtained in Devonshire. 



This species is peculiarly tame and confident in its habits, 

 moving away but a short distance if nearly approached. It 

 is mostly to be seen on rocks or on the ground, and seldom 

 perches on trees; it frequently shuffles its wings and tail after 

 the manner of the Dunnpck. 



Its food consists of flies and other insects, grasshoppers, 

 eanvigs, ants' eggs, and small seeds. 



Its note is described as resembling the syllables 'tree, tree:' 

 its song is said to be pleasing. 



The nest is placed among stones or in some cavity or crevice 

 of the mountain rock, as also at times, it is said, on the roofs 

 of houses in such situations, as also under the shelter of the 

 alpine rose or other low bush. It is made of moss and fine 

 grass, and is lined with wool and hair. 



The eggs, four or five in number, are of a beautiful light 

 greenish blue colour. There are said to be two broods in 

 the year. 



Male; length, six inches and a half to seven inches; bill, 

 strong, straight, and fine-pointed; the upper bill is dusky 

 black, yellowish white at the base; the lower bill is orange 

 yellowish white, except at the tip, which is brownish black; 

 iris, dark brown. Head, crown, and neck on the sides and 

 back, dull light brownish grey; the latter in front is dull 

 yellowish white, with a small black spot on each feather; 

 nape, brownish grey; chin and throat, dull white, with a 

 small black spot on each feather of a crescent shape, which 

 loses or gains its perfect form according to the season of 

 the year; it is bordered below with a black band; breast 

 above, dark grey, varied lower down and on the sides with 

 orange chesnut brown marks, the edges of the feathers white, 

 and then greyish or yellowish white, tinged with yellowish 

 brown, and spotted with darker brown; back, brown, the 

 feathers being greyish brown on the edges, with longitudinal 

 patches on the centre of each of dark blackish brown, more 

 or less visible in different seasons of the year; on the lower 

 part it is greyish brown, in some specimens reddish grey, 

 with dark shaft streaks. 



