72 BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
ROCK PIPIT. 
AnTHus opscurus, Lath. 
Pl. XL, fig. 7. 
Geogr. distr.—Northern Europe during the summer; Central and 
Southern Europe in the winter ; in Great Britain 1t is common round 
the sea coast, being resident in Northumberland and Durham. 
Food.—Small seeds, insects in all stages, Mollusca, and small 
Crustacea. 
Nest.—Formed of fine dry grass-stalks, or sometimes sea-weeds, 
lined with finer grasses and a few black horse-hairs. 
Position of nest.—On the ground on the slope of a grassy bank, 
nade a large stone, or upon ledges of rock at no great height above 
the sea. 
Number of eggs.—4-5. 
Time of nidification—IV-V; May. 
This Pipit is confined to the cliffs, rocks, and lowlands 
close to the sea, where it is generally distributed ; when 
disturbed it behaves somewhat like a Wagtail, flying from 
point to point, and, as it settles, agitating its body and 
tail with a vibratory motion. 
The eggs vary in much the same manner as those of 
the Sky Lark, and, in a series collected by Mr. T. Cope- 
land, at Uist, in May, 1884, and forwarded for examina- 
tion to Mr. Harting, were several clutches which in all 
respects resembled eggs of that bird.* 
* Subsequently a clutch of five eggs was kindly sent to me by Mr. 
Copeland. 
