312 BULLETIN 142, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



district for two or more years in succession. New nests are merely 

 saucer-like depressions with a few heather stalks and some dead bents, 

 but almost always some leaves of bay myrtle or bilberry in the hollow, 

 and if the bird has begun to sit, some of its own small breast feathers. 



Eggs. — Normally, four in number, occasionally only three, while 

 five have occurred; second layings usually consist of three eggs. 

 Larger numbers, such as eight, recorded by Booth, are probably due 

 either to two hens laying together or one clutch spoilt by weather 

 and a second laid subsequently. They are pyriform in shape and 

 wonderfully handsome, the ground color varies from stone color to 

 warm buff, marked sometimes sparingly and sometimes freely with 

 irregular spots and blotches of deep red-brown, as well as ashy or 

 purplish shell marks. In most eggs the markings are heavier at the 

 large end. The measurements of 100 eggs average 51.41 by 34.80 

 millimeters; the eggs showing the four extremes measure 59.8 by 

 37.7, 45.8 by 35.4, and 50.4 by 32.4 millimeters. 



Young. — That incubation is sometimes shared by both sexes is 

 proved by the fact that both Walpole Bond and Seton Gordon have 

 witnessed the change of duties and the latter has actually photo- 

 graphed the birds in the act of changing places. Yet Gilroy watched 

 one bird from 10.45 a. m. to 7.50 p. m., which remained all the time 

 at a loch side in Sutherland on May 16, although its mate was sitting 

 on a clutch of fresh eggs. Evidently there is considerable individual 

 variation in this respect. 



Plumages. — The molts and plumages are fully described in "A 

 Practical Handbook of British Birds," edited by H. F. Witherby 

 (1920), to which the reader is referred. 



Food. — During the breeding season the food consists chiefly of 

 insects and their larvae, but tadpoles and frog spawn are freely 

 taken and Oswin Lee records a pair feeding busily for nearly an 

 hour in the evening on them, and small water beetles. Fresh-water 

 mollusca, such as Planorbis, are also taken and occasionally a small 

 fish. Along insects the following genera of Coleoptera have been 

 recorded : Phyllopertha, Cneorhinus, Harpalus, Dytiscus, Gyrinus, 

 Aphodius, and Ilybius. Among Diptera, Tipula and their larvae; 

 also Notonecta glauca and Lestes nympha. In the autumn and win- 

 ter a great part of the food is picked up on the coast and includes 

 worms, lug-worms, Crustacea (Palaemon, Crangon, Hippolyte, 

 Squilla, and in large numbers Gammaridae). 



Behavior. — Although a large proportion of its breeding area is 

 absolutely devoid of trees, the greenshank also nests in country inter- 

 sected by belts of forest, and it is interesting to note that it perches 

 readily on trees and makes good use of them as lookout posts. It is 

 always wary and readily takes alarm, rising with loud outcry on the 



