322 GLOTTIS CHLOROPUS. 



Female. — The female is slightly smaller, but does not 

 differ from the male in colour. 



Habits. — The Greenshank is generally dispersed in 

 England and some of the southern parts of Scotland during 

 the winter, when it is seen in small flocks here and there 

 along the sea-shore, by the margins of rivers, and in marshy 

 places ; but it is nowhere common, and in most districts of 

 very rare occurrence. By the beginning of summer it has 

 disappeared from its winter haunts, and advanced north- 

 wards, individuals or pairs remaining here and there in the 

 more northern parts of Scotland, while the rest extend their 

 migration. 



In the Outer Hebrides it is seen early in summer, and 

 generally departs in October, although I have seen indi- 

 viduals there in November. Previous to the commencement 

 of the breeding season, and after the young are fledged, it 

 resorts to the shores of the sea, frequenting pools of brackish 

 water at the head of the sandfords, and the shallow margins 

 of bays and creeks. Its habits are very similar to those of 

 the Redshank, with which it associates in autumn. It is 

 extremely shy and vigilant, insomuch that one can very 

 seldom shoot it, unless after it has deposited its eggs. 

 Many individuals remain during the summer, when they are 

 to be found by the lakes in the interior, of which the number 

 in Uist, Harris, and Lewis is astonishing. At that season 

 it is very easily discovered, for when one is perhaps more 

 than a quarter of a mile distant, it rises into the air with 

 clamorous cries, alarming all the birds in its neighbourhood, 

 flies round the place of its nest, now Avhecling off to a 

 distance, again advancing, and at intervals alighting by the 

 edge of the lake, when it continues its cries, vibrating its 

 body all the while. 



I once found a nest of this bird in the island of Harris. 

 It was at a considerable distance from a small lake, and 

 consisted of a few fragments of heath and some blades of 

 grass, placed in a shallow cavity scraped in the turf, in an 

 exposed place, — that is, on a slight eminence, — covered 

 chiefly with moss, lichens, and some carices and short heath. 



