148 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



being admitted into the cabinet : the most general 

 colouring appears to be a light ground, very thickly 

 smeared and spotted with rusty brown, almost 

 hiding the ground colour in a lightish grey ground, 

 much spotted with dusky. 



KOCK PIPIT, Anthus petrosus. The Rock Pipit is 

 common throughout the whole length of our coast, 

 but in no other part of the county indeed, I believe 

 this bird is never found far from the sea: it is 

 resident with us throughout the year. 



The food of the Rock Pipit consists of worms 

 and marine insects, for which it may constantly 

 be seen searching amongst the sea-weed and rocks 

 or pebbles on the beach, occasionally running up 

 quite close to the breaking waves. I have occa- 

 sionally seen Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits 

 engaged in this search in company with the Rock 

 Pipit. 



The nest of the present species is placed on the 

 ground, either on grass-covered rocks or banks a 

 little above the sea:* it is made of several sorts of 

 dry grass and a few sea-weeds. 



The Rock Pipit is larger than either of the last 

 two species. The beak is dark brown on the upper 

 part of the upper mandible, and on the point of 

 both mandibles, the base and edges of both man- 

 dibles pale yellow-brown ; irides dark brown ; head, 



* Meyer's ' British Birds,' vol. ii., p. 230. 



