270 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 



white ; the remainder of the under parts are sandy- 

 buff, streaked with brown. During flight the 

 smoke-brown patch on the outer tail feathers is 

 very conspicuous, During autumn and winter 

 Rock Pipits may generally be met with in parties, 

 sometimes even in small flocks, congregating on the 

 rocky beaches, the cliffs, and downs, or, at low 

 water, searching amongst the seaweed and shingle 

 for food. They are by no means shy birds, but, if 

 alarmed, rise in scattered order, and, after flitting 

 aimlessly about, again pitch a little farther on, and 

 resume their search, In spring the Rock Pipit 

 separates into pairs, the low-lying shores are deserted, 

 and the birds resort to their several breeding-places. 

 In early spring the simple song of the cock bird 

 may be heard at intervals all the livelong day, 

 sometimes uttered as he perches on a big stone or 

 clings to the cliffs hundreds of feet above our heads, 

 but more frequently as he flutters in the air. The 

 food of this Pipit is composed of insects, and worms, 

 and small seeds. Although small and unobtrusive, 

 the Rock Pipit is not easily overlooked. It flits 

 before the observer in a wavering, uncertain manner, 

 uttering its plaintive weet as it goes ; then alights a 

 little further on, and waits our approach, when once 

 more it rises, cheeping, into the air, to alight far up 

 the cliffs, or turn back to seek its original haunt. 

 Although this species pairs early, the nest is seldom 

 made before May. Few nests are more difficult to 

 find than the Rock Pipit's, hidden as it is under 



