The Tattlers. 



177 



THE 



RED-BREASTED 



SNIPE-TATTLER, 



(Macrorhnmplnis 

 grisens.) 



The Red-breasted Snii'e-Tattler. 



THE SPOTTED 

 REDSHANK. 



{Totnnus fusnts.) 



This is 

 essentially a 

 G o d w i t in 

 plumage, but 

 has a different 

 bill, somewhat 

 widened out at the tip and pitted. 

 The female has a slightly longer 

 bill than the male. In winter the 

 plumage is grey, with the under- 

 parts white, the throat streaked, 

 and the chest and sides of the 

 body barred with blackish. It is 

 a North-American species, which 

 has occurred more than a dozen times in England, and twice in Ireland. 



Distinguished in summer by its sooty-black under-surface ; 

 and in the winter plumage, which resembles that of the other 

 Tattlers, the Spotted Redshank may always be recognised by its 

 white rump, and by its barred secondaries. It does not nest in the 

 British Islands, but is only a visitor on migration. Its breeding range e.xtends 

 through Northern Europe and Northern Asia, and it migrates south in the autumn 

 to India, Burma and China, as well as Southern Europe. It frequents inland 

 marshes during the breeding season, and the shores of lakes, and it nests on hill-sides, 

 often away from water. The nests are depressions in the ground with a few dry 

 leaves. The eggs are of a rich green colour, when fresh, but fade to a light brown, 

 with reddish-brown blotches and scribblings, generally collected near the larger end. 



They measure about an inch-and-three- 

 quarters in length. 



The Common Red- 

 shank is recognised by 

 its white rump and 

 white inner second- 

 aries ; it has also orange legs like the 

 vSpotted Redshank. The stripes on the 

 breast are more distinct in summer than 

 in winter, and the upper surface is blotched 

 with black. It breeds in marshy places 

 throughout England, Ireland and Scot- 

 land, and is found in localities suited to 

 its habits throughout Europe and Central 

 Asia as far as Mongolia. In winter it 



12 



THE COMMON 

 REDSHANK. 



{Totnnus calidris.) 



The Spotted Redshank. 



