CHARADRIID/E. 



615 



THE COMMON REDSHANK. 



ToTANUS CALiDRis (LinnKus). 



In spite of drainage the Redshank may be found nesting in most 

 of the marshy districts of England and, sparsely, in Wales ; usually 

 making its appearance inland from the middle of March onwards. 

 Early in autumn home-bred birds begin to resort to the coast, where 

 they are joined by large numbers from the Continent ; but on the 

 approach of cold weather the majority pass southward, though in 

 some places birds may be found throughout the winter. On the 

 mainland of Scotland the species is abundant, but in the Orkneys 

 and Shetlands it does not breed plentifully, while in most of the 

 Outer Hebrides it is chiefly an autumnal visitor. In Ireland it is 

 fairly numerous during the summer, while plentiful at other times of 

 the year along the sea-board, especially on the bays of the west, where 

 large expanses covered with Zostera marina are left exposed by the 

 receding tide. 



This species breeds in Iceland, the Faeroes, Scandinavia up to 

 lat. 70° N., and as far north as Sviatoi-noss in Russian Lapland ; 

 south of which it is found nesting in suitable localities throughout 

 Europe, as well as in Morocco. It visits the Canaries, and migrates 

 down the west side of Africa to Cape Colony, while on the east k 

 can be traced to Natal. In Asia it barely ranges north of laL 55°, 



