REDSHANK 319 



31.56 millimeters; the eggs showing the four extremes measure 48.4 

 by 32.4, 4G.5 by 33.1, and 41.5 by 28.5 millimeters. It would be seen 

 from the above figures that Icelandic eggs (like the birds) are 

 slightly larger than British specimens. The incubation period lasts 

 23 to 25 days and is apparently chiefly undertaken by the female, 

 but J. Cunningham has shot the male from the eggs. 



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. — The redshank is a shore feeder to a great extent for the 

 autumn months and often a riverside and marsh harvester in spring 

 and summer. In the latter season its food consists chiefly of insects 

 and their larvae, including Coleoptera (Hyphidrus, Onthophagus, 

 etc.), Diptera, especially Tipulidae; also the larvae of Ephemeridae 

 and Phryganeidae, spiders, worms {Lumbrici) ; and it is said small 

 frogs and berries are also taken. In autumn Crustacea (including 

 Gammaridae, shrimps, and small crabs) are taken; also Mollusca 

 (Cardium) and smaller marine univalves and annelids in addition 

 to insect food when procurable; and small fish have been found in 

 the stomach by Professor Patten. 



Behavior. — The restless and wary nature of this very numerous 

 species renders it very unpopular with the shore shooters, as its loud 

 yelping cry of Took took alarms every bird within earshot. As 

 thej' are poor eating and do not pay for shooting, they frequently 

 escape, although a good many are shot. During the breeding season 

 it is quite a common sight to see a redshank perched on a post, or 

 tripping lightly along a rail with upraised wings, and it will at 

 times even settle on a tree. 



Fall. — As soon as the young are able to fly (for only one brood is 

 reared in the season) the redshanks form into family parties or 

 small flocks and work their way down the valleys toward the shore. 

 On the British coasts large reinforcements arrive from the conti- 

 nent, but it is not possible to tell whether the birds which remain 

 throughout the winter are visitors from the north or locally bred 

 birds. In Iceland they leave about the end of September or early 

 in October, and on the British coasts are most numerous from mid- 

 July to mid-November. 



Winter. — The main winter quarters of this species are in Africa, 

 but it is of scarce occurrence in the south; and also in southwestern 

 Asia; farther east in Asia it is replaced by other races, which winter 

 in India, the Malay Peninsula, and the islands of Malaysia. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Breeding range. — In Iceland and the Faeroes the breeding race is 

 T. totanus robustus. The typical race (T. totanus totanus) breeds 



