THE ROCK PIPIT. 249 



singing bird, whose voice we hear there, and so 

 adapted is the seashore to its habits and necessities, 

 that not even the rigorous cold of winter di'ives it 

 inland; though now and then, dui'ing autumn, a 

 few of these birds go to the heaths, which to them 

 must bear some resemblance to the downs of the 

 coast. It may be seen, too, running over the grass 

 of the salt marshes, and picking up the worms 

 and salt-water insects, which lie hid in the pools 

 and soft earth tliere ; but it never congregates in 

 flocks. In its mode of flight, its call, and song- 

 notes, it is very similar to the meadow pipit, 

 which, as well as itself, loves the rocky shore, 

 and sometimes sings there its gentle songs. 



The rocks near the shore are often very beautiful 

 when we are near enough to see the low grasses 

 and flowers which are peculiar to them. It is 

 among their crevices that our rock pipit builds its 

 nest, gathering thence for the little structure the 

 dried grasses and seaweeds of which it is composed, 

 and carolling near those crevices its early morning 

 song. The nest is lined with fine grass or hair, 

 and the eggs are of a pale yello^vish-grey, spotted 

 and mottled witli reddish-brown. If this pipit 

 builds on the marsh its nest is placed on the ground. 



