ROCK PIPIT. 
231 
In others, even from the same nest, a very peculiar and 
striking difference is found. One set sent to us for examina- 
O 
tion, had one of the eggs as last described: of the other two 
one was of a perfect whole-coloured chocolate brown, the 
other of an even tint of greenish grey, much resembling the 
colour of some of the plain specimens of the nightingale’s 
eggs; this latter specimen has a fine hair-like streak sur¬ 
rounding the egg towards the larger end. These specimens 
were from the coast of Suffolk, All the eggs of this species 
that we have seen, have very little polish on the surface, and 
are of an uniform shape and size, nearly nine lines long and 
six and a half lines in diameter. 
The Rock Pipit is indigenous in this country, and remains 
stationary, as far as its habits are known, throughout the 
year. On the northern coasts of Europe it is only known as 
a summer visitor, retiring southward in autumn. Whether 
any accession of numbers takes place on our shores, we are 
not aware, but it is highly probable that some of this species 
may, like the larks, seek refuge here from the inclemencies of 
northern climates. 
The distribution of this species towards the east, does 
not appear to be extensive ; no mention is made of it in 
Mr. Drummond’s list of the birds of Corfu and Crete, 
and Temminck has received no specimens of this species 
from Japan. 
The entire length of this species is rather above six 
inches and a half, and it is a stout and large-made bird, 
weighing seven drams. The wing measures from carpus to 
tip three inches and a half, and the tail extends beyond the 
closed wdngs about an inch and five lines. The wing has 
the first quill-feather the longest, the second, third, and fourth 
gradually diminishing in length in a very trifling degree ; the 
longest tertial feathers reach to within three lines of the tips 
