CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 133 



REDSHANK.— (Summer.) 



Case 157. 



This bird is common from Sussex to Caithness, being 

 a permanent resident in the British Islands, though 

 perhaps less numerous in the winter than at other 

 seasons. 



It breeds in marshes in various parts of the country, 

 being particularly abundant, as might be expected, in 

 the Broad districts of Norfolk. About August or 

 September, when the young have gained sufficient 

 strength, they leave their inland quarters and betake 

 themselves to the sea-coast and salt-water mudbanks, 

 joining occasionally in immense flocks. 



On rough stormy nights, in the early part of the 

 autumn, these birds are often attracted by the glare of 

 the Hghts, and may be heard, in company with other 

 Waders, flying over large towns, to the great astonish- 

 ment of the inhabitants. 



I have in two or three instances discovered eight 

 eggs in the nest of the Common Redshank, it being in 

 every case quite evident, from the difl'erence in the 

 colour of the eggs, that two birds had laid in the same 

 nest. I have also seen seven and eight eggs in the nest 

 of the Greenshank in Sutherland and Ross-shire; 

 though in neither case could I distinguish the slightest 

 difl'erence in the eggs, the whole appearing to be one 

 set ; this, however, was unlikely, as several other pairs 

 of birds were observed at no great distance. 



The specimens in the case were obtained in Glen- 

 lyon, in Perthshire, in June, 1867. 



