3 o ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



paths. It sits on the sprays of vegetation,, 



and utters at intervals its long-drawn, plaintive 



note of twite. Even on the moor itself numbers 



Dunlins of Peewits are nesting as well as Dunlins, and the 



iothiMa g y.' eggs of the former bird are eagerly sought by the 



country people, who send them to the markets, 



where they are held in high esteem for the table. 



On every bit of marshy ground the Meadow Pipit 



abounds. This species comes from the lowland 



pastures to rear its young on the breezy moors, 



making its nest on the ground under a tuft of 



grass or rush, or beneath a bush of heath. The 



Meadow Pipit is very frequently the foster parent 



cckoos^ O f t h e Cuckoo, those errant birds searching every- 



jH^ 2 ' Lh where for the " Titlark's " nest, in which they 



drop their alien egg. In the gorse coverts, now 



glowing in the sunlight like masses of burnished 



Linnets gold, the sweet-songed Linnets make their nests.. 



3 oth Apni. They, too, like the Meadow Pipit, leave the 



lowland pastures for the spring and summer. 



Another bird of the gorse coverts is the gay 



stonechats little Stonechat. Pairs of this bird may be seen, 



2 8th If ni'. flitting about the covers, the male often sitting 



on some bending spray of furze and warbling his 



Merlins simple song. The Merlins also are back again in 



laying, i 3 th , . , 



May. their accustomed summer haunts waging relentless 

 and incessant warfare on the small birds and 

 weakly Grouse. This dashing little Falcon, the 

 pluckiest of its race, returns unerringly to one 

 particular spot, and nests year after year in one 

 chosen place, this season's eggs being laid but a few 



