Pipit. INSESSORES. ANTHUS. 259 



It breeds very early, building in the clefts and on ledges of 

 the rocks. — The nest is composed of bent and marine plants, Nest, &c. 

 lined with fine grass, and sometimes with hair. It lays four 

 or five eggs, of a pale yellowish-grey colour, with reddish- 

 brown spots, almost confluent at the larger end. — It feeds Food, 

 on the smaller marine insects and worms. It is constantly 

 resident with us, and may be foimd at all seasons upon the 

 coast ; nor does it ever appear to congregate or remove in- 

 land, even during winter, or in the severest storms. 



Plate 49. Fig. 6. Natural size. 



Bill dusky, with the upper mandible yellowish. Above General 

 the eye is a yellowish-white streak. Head oil-green, tion'^"^" 

 tinged with brown; back and rump oil-green, tinged 

 with brown ; on the former, the shafts of the feathers 

 being a little darker. Lesser and greater wing-coverts 

 dusky, edged with pale oil-green ; quills the same ; tail 

 dusky ; the outer web, and part of the inner one of the 

 exterior feather, of a dirty or greenish- white. Throat 

 yellowish-white. Sides of the neck and breast greenish- 

 white, with brown streaks. Sides and thighs the same. 

 Belly yellowish-white, with a few dark brown streaks. 

 Legs broAvn. Hind claw curved, and three-eighth parts 

 of an inch in length. 

 The female is very similar to the male bird in appearance. 



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