39 
Perching Birds. 
species of Western Europe, nesting in the British Islands, and, according to Mr. 
Howard Saunders, on the opposite shores of Northern France. In Northern Europe 
its place is taken by the Scandinavian Rock-Pipit, Antlius rupestris. The species 
can always be told by the smoky brown tint of the light portion of the outer tail- 
feathers, which distinguishes it from all other British Pipits. Although, in my 
opinion, the Scandinavian Rock-Pipit is easily recognisable in its summer plumage 
from our own A. obscurus, at other times of the year the young and winter birds are 
indistinguishable. 
The Rock-Pipit is an inhabitant of our wilder coasts, and does not frequent the 
more open portions during the breeding season, though it occurs in winter on our 
southern coast-line. In habits it closely resembles the Meadow-Pipit, and its food 
is similar. During the breeding season the male flies up into the air to sing, and 
warbles sweetly as it descends spirally with outspread wings. The nest is a rough 
structure of dead grass with shore-plants intermixed, and lined with moss or hair 
according to the facilities with which the bird can 
obtain these materials. It is placed generally 
close to the shore, but not unfrequently on a clift 
at some height. The eggs are four or five in 
number, rather dark in tint as a rule, the brown 
mottlings obscuring the greyish-white ground 
colour. 
The Scandinavian Rock-Pipit ( Antlius rupes- 
tris). As already remarked, there is no obvious 
difference between this species and the ordinary 
Rock-Pipit in the winter plumage or in that of 
the young birds, but in the summer dress 
the two species are quite recognisable, the 
vinous breast of the Scandinavian form being a distinct feature. In this respect 
it is allied to the Water- Pipit, but is easily separated from that species by the tint 
of the light pattern on the outer tail-feather, which is smoky brown instead of being 
white as in A. spipoletta. 
I he present species is an autumnal migrant to the eastern and southern coasts 
of England, returning eastwards in spring, and moulting on the journey, as is the habit 
of Pipits, which have a spring as well as an autumnal moult. Thus, the individuals 
procured near Brighton in spring, generally shew traces of the change to the uniform 
vinous breast from the preceding winter plumage with its striped breast. The 
Scandinavian Rock-Pipit, in fact, follows the same line of western migration as the 
Black Redstart (Ruticilla titys), in the British Islands. In summer it is distributed 
along the rocky shores of Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea, as far as the White Sea. 
I lie habits and nesting are similar to those of our own Rock-Pipit, and the eggs are 
indistinguishable from those of the last-named species. 
The Scandinavian Rock-Pipit. 
