. Our favourite song birds ; their habits, music, and characteristics . might be suggested as a compromise. Thislittle bird is specially interesting, for it is in thiscountry at least the only Passerine species whichis confined to the coast. It is never met with outof sight of the sea under any normal is for the most part a sedentary species, althoughduring the migration periods it may be noticedmoving along the coasts on passage, and theninhabits less precipitous localities. These migrants,however, appear to belong to the northern race;so far as our observations go (and they
. Our favourite song birds ; their habits, music, and characteristics . might be suggested as a compromise. Thislittle bird is specially interesting, for it is in thiscountry at least the only Passerine species whichis confined to the coast. It is never met with outof sight of the sea under any normal is for the most part a sedentary species, althoughduring the migration periods it may be noticedmoving along the coasts on passage, and theninhabits less precipitous localities. These migrants,however, appear to belong to the northern race;so far as our observations go (and they extend overmany years) the British Rock Pipits are coast is too wild and rock-bound for the RockPipit; it may be seen flitting along the face of thebeetling cliffs where scarcely a foothold can beobtained, as well as frequenting the boulder-strewedbeach, or those localities where the cliffs are morebroken into downs. Although an unobtrusive littlebird, it is one not easily overlooked, for its complain-ing note is most persistently uttered, and its short. Rock Iipit THE ROCK PIPIT 163 flights just in advance of our steps seldom fail todraw the attention. It may be identified at onceby the absence of the white pattern on the tail(which is replaced by smoke-brown) and by itslarge size. In general colouration it resembles theMeadow Pipit. Its whole life is almost passedbetween the cliffs and low water mark. It is byno means a shy bird, and may be watched flittingabout the stones and rocks, or running about theshingle and weed-scattered shore, if approached tooclosely rising In a wavering sort of way, cheepingmournfully as it goes, and again alighting a littlefarther on; and this will be repeated for a longdistance if we care to follow. Except in autumnand winter the Rock Pipit is neither gregarious norsociable ; although even in summer many pairs ofbirds may be met with close together along the samerange of cliffs. Like many other birds we could name the RockPipit beco
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirdsen, bookyear1897
