s|)ecies is wavering' and desultory, audits cry is a repeated shrill ‘ cheep.’ When disturbed while feeding, it 
llntters about, frequently repeating its note, settles on a rock or stone, or on the grass, keeps vibrating 
its body, and waits until the intruder departs. But although shy, it is only after a fashion, for it seems to 
consider Itself safe at no great distance ; and, indeed, it may generally do so with impunity, for it is very 
seldom molested, neither its colours nor the quality of its flesh being sufficiently attractive to the sportsman 
to induce him to hold it in request. It is scarcely gregarious at any season, but in winter may be said to be 
at least not unsocial. 
“ About the middle of spring it pairs, and towards the end of April or the beginning of May forms a nest 
similar to that of the Meadow Pipit, being rather bulky, and composed of stems and blades of grass, with a 
lining of finer materials of the same kind and some hair. It is placed in a grassy bank, or among moss in 
some rocky place, generally overhanging the sea or not far inland. Sea-weeds and moss sometimes, but not 
generally, form part of the nest. 
“ The song is composed of a shrill whistle, not very agreeable, and is performed while the bird is hovering 
in the air. It is of the same general character as that of the Meadow Pipit, but is louder, not so protracted, 
and less pleasing. When its nest is approached, it hovers round, incessantly uttering its shrill querulous 
notes, and betraying its anxiety by its restlessness. I have never met Avitb it at the distance of half a mile 
from the sea-shore ; it appears, therefore, to be strictly maritime.” 
A nest taken at Alum Bay in the Isle of Wight, in May 1855, Avas thick and substantial, composed 
entirely of interAvoven stems of dry grasses, and very tastefully decorated on the outside Avlth many 
delicate sea-weeds. The four eggs contained therein Avere of a greenish stone-colour, almost entirely 
hidden, especially at the larger end, with confluent blotches of ashy brown. 
Through the kindness of many friends, particularly Mr. Gatcombe, of Plymouth, Mr. Bond, Mr. Murray 
A. MathcAA'^s, and Mr. Hartlng, I have been enabled to compare skins of the Rock Pipit from nearly every part 
of England, Scotland, and the Hebrides, and I find them very consistent in their colouring. While 
the nestlings are perfecting their first primaries their colour closely assimilates to that of the adults 
after their autumnal moult, Avhen the plumage is suffiised AAuth deep olive on the upper, and 
dull yellow on the under surface; the feathers are much lengthened, and the entire coating of the bird 
thick, smooth, and silky to the touch. As spring approaches, the tips of the olive-coloured feathers being 
worn off, the bird becomes of a browner hue, but still retains the spots on the breast and upj)er surface ; 
the bill becomes oliA'e-black ; the legs and feet nearly black in lieu of the paler tint of the colours which 
pervaded those parts in winter. 
The adults of both sexes have all the upper surface olive, with a darker centre to each feather ; Aving- 
coverts tipped Avith pale greyish olive ; under surface pale yelloAvish buff, thickly streaked on the sides of 
the throat, breast, and flanks Avith brown ; tail dark broAvn with an oblique mark of whitish broAvn across the 
apical portion of the outer feather on each side. 
The figures are of the natural size. 
