174 
ANTHHLE. 
TNSESSORES. 
DENTIROSTRES. 
ANTHIDJE 
ROCK PIPIT. 
ROCK LARK. 
Anthus AQUATICUS. 
PLATE XLIV. FIG. III. 
The Rock Pipits are, I believe, confined entirely to 
the sea-coast, upon some parts of which they are very 
abundant. They make their nests upon the ground, or 
upon ledges of the rock bounding the sea-beach. I have 
frequently found them upon the Fern and Coquet Islands, 
and once met with one snugly sheltered in the centre of 
a heap of sea-weed which lay upon the sandy shore just 
above high-water mark. The nest is composed entirely 
of fine dry grass, and, although beautifully complete and 
symmetrical in its proper position, very soon falls to 
pieces if removed. The eggs are four or five, and oc¬ 
casionally six in number. I have seen no very striking 
varieties amongst them ; they maybe readily known from 
those of the other species of Anthus by their superior 
size ; from some of the varieties of eggs of the skylark it 
would not be so easy to distinguish them; they are, 
however, usually broader, in comparison to their length, 
and are without the greenish colouring, which is fre¬ 
quently characteristic of the eggs of the skylark. The 
egg figured, sent me from the collection of Mr. Hancock, 
is more like the eggs of the skylark in shape and colour 
than is usually the case. 
