ROCK PIPIT. 117 



stuffed, but the specimen has since been lost; the others were not 

 preserved. I had no doubt whatever as to the species, and wrote 

 to the late Professor Macgillivray, informing him of the captures, 

 without, however, eliciting a reply. I have never again met with 

 this pipit in any district of Scotland. 



THE ROCK PIPIT. 



AN THUS PETROSUS. 



Glais-eun. 



I HAVE never missed this familiar bird from the sea shore, either 

 on the eastern or western coasts; it is found at all seasons, and 

 sometimes when all other birds are absent it is the only sign of 

 life visible as it flits constantly from one rock to another. I have 

 never yet seen it away from the coast; it seems to prefer rocks 

 and sea-weed to all other haunts. Even at full tide, when the 

 waters have covered their usual feeding ground, they retire no 

 further than to the nearest creek, where they search for flies among 

 the dry stones, or busy themselves in examining the crevices of 

 rocks high above the action of the waves. The nest is usually 

 placed on rough ground, or rocks almost within reach of the salt 

 spray. I have many times found it in very picturesque situations; 

 one in particular on the lesser C umbrae was placed above a cave's 

 mouth adorned with a profusion of plants at the root of a tuft of 

 hypericum in full flower. The face of the rock was decked all over 

 with sea-pink and ladies' bedstraw, and in this garden of wild 

 flowers the pair of Rock Pipits had established themselves. They 

 had four fully fledged young ones in the nest, and made a great 

 outcry on their nursery being discovered. The brood, however, 

 could fly perfectly, and got off in safety. 



On all the western islands, including the Outer Hebrides, 

 Monach Isles, Haskar Rocks, and St Kilda, this species is equally 

 common, breeding in similar situations, and keeping strictly to the 

 sea margin. 



