THE SINGING BIRDS. 279 



is poured out with great rapidity, as they rise quickly into the air ; and after hovering for a time, with 

 a gentle swimming motion, slowly descend, with wings outspread, to the spot from which they rose. 

 They very rarely sing when perching on the rocks or bushes. The nest is far less carefully concealed 

 than that of other Pipits, and is generally placed in a crevice, hole, or under a tree-root so situated 

 as to afford an overhanging shelter to the little family. The eggs, from four to seven in number, 

 have a dirty white shell, very thickly marked with various shades of brown and grey ; they bear a 

 considerable resemblance to those of the Common House Sparrow. Tschudi tells us that on the 

 Alps it is not uncommon for both parents and young to. perish in the heavy snow that often falls 

 in spring. 



" Though called the Rock Pipit," observes Mr. Yarrell, " it inhabits as well low, flat shores in the 

 vicinity of the sea, and the neighbouring salt marshes, where it feeds on marine insects, sometimes 

 seeking its food close to the edge of the retiring tide. I have seen these birds very busily engaged in 

 the examination of sea-weed, apparently in search of the smaller Crustacea. This species is readily 

 distinguished from the Tree and Meadow Pipit by its larger size. The hind claw is long and very 

 considerably curved. The localities frequented by the Rock Pipit are, however, strikingly distin- 

 guished from those in which the other Pipits are so constantly found. I do not remember to have 

 seen the Rock Pipit except within a short distance of the sea-shore ; and so generally is it there 

 distributed, that I never remember looking for it, when visiting any part of our sea-coast, without 

 finding it. It does not wander far inland, and is very seldom seen at any considerable distance from 

 the sea. It remains in this country on the coast throughout the year." 



" The Rock Pipit," Mr. Lloyd tells us, " is exceedingly common on the whole coast of 

 Scandinavia, from Scania to North Cape. Every rocky islet, indeed," he continues, " is occupied 

 by a pair or two of these birds, but I do not remember having seen them in the interior of the 

 country. 



" The fishermen in the province of Blekinge look upon the Rock Pipit as a very useful bird, for 

 the reason that when the water is low it repairs to the bare rocks, and feeds on the grtmd marla, 

 a little shrimp or crustacean, which is so injurious to their nets that, during a long autumnal night, 

 it will destroy them altogether. 



" The female forms her nest on grass-grown ledges of rocks, but, though in appearance pretty 

 substantial, it is so fragile that it falls to pieces at the least handling. She lays from four to five 

 eggs of a greyish brown or greenish brown colour, marked with ash-brown spots, and usually hatches 

 at the beginning of May." 



THE STONE PIPIT, OR FALLOW-LAND PIPIT. 



The Stone Pipit, or Fallow-land Pipit {Agrodroma campestris), the largest member of this 

 family, represents a group of slenderer form, and- having a stronger beak and foot than those above 

 described. The length of this species is from six inches and three-quarters to seven inches, its 

 breadth ten inches and a half to ten inches and three-quarters ; the wing measures three inches and a 

 quarter, and the tail two inches and five-sixths. The upper parts of the body are pale yellowish grey, 

 sparsely marked with clearly-defined dark spots ; the under side is dirty yellowish white ; the feathers 

 over the crop have dark streaks on the shafts; a light yellow line passes over the eye; and the wings 

 are decorated with yellowish white stripes. The young are darker, and their feathers edged with 

 yellow. The region of the crop is also much spotted. 



The Fallow-land Pipit frequents unfruitful, arid, or stony localities, such as are avoided by other 

 members of the family, and is far more numerous in the southern countries of Europe than in the 

 northern parts of our continent. Bolle tells us that it inhabits the hottest and most barren districts 



