218 THE BIRDS OF IONA AND MULL. 



a savage rush at the little intruder with the intention of pecking it, 

 very like an irate dame running at a small boy " to lend him a box o' 

 the ear." The wagtail, of course, easily evades the onslaught of the 

 hen, and alights again within a yard of her tail with a flirt of his tail 

 and a cheery tee-wheet, seeming to say, " All right, old lady ! don't 

 bother yourself on my account ! " I suppose the more marked plumage 

 of the wagtail attracts the attention of the poultry more than the 

 equally pert but less motley clad sparrows ; and a fact that favours 

 this supposition is that of a tame canary escaping from its cage and 

 eventually alighting in the hens' yard, where we expected easily to 

 recapture it, but before any of us could interfere the hens flew at the 

 interesting foreigner and demolished him. 



THE MEADOW PIPIT. 



Is common enough all summer time, but whether they remain 

 through winter or not I do not recollect observing. 



THE ROCK PIPIT. 



I look on this little bird with peculiar interest and affection 

 from the very unusual haunts and habits that he affects. Though his 

 appearance is so like that of his congeners of the woods and meadows, 

 yet you find him at home on the remotest and most desolate islets, 

 round which the restless surges moan unintermittingly from year's end 

 to year's end. When stalking sea-fowl among the huge sea-beaten 

 rocks, there you are sure to meet the irrepressible rock pipit on the 

 slippery rock within a few feet of the boiling surf, and the sight of the 

 little, modest shore-going bird in such a scene of savage wildness and 

 isolation is almost comforting and reassuring, as though there could not 

 be danger where such a delicate, feeble creature finds himself comfortable 

 and secure. On such occasions he shows no alarm at your appearance, 

 as if knowing you had no designs against him, but only salutes you 

 with a wild tweet, and does not suspend his busy inspection of the dubs 

 of water left by the retiring waves. This quiet, confidential demeanour 

 earns your gratitude ; it is so unlike that of the fussy, red-shank 

 "tatler," who would have alarmed and aroused the whole coast with 

 all his call and clamour, his unnecessary tumult ; and you leave the 

 gentle bird behind, to find another one of the same species enjoying 



