1/8 



British Birds. 



The Common Redshank. 



spreads along the shores and inland waters ot Africa and India, even to the 

 Moluccas. At the nest the Redshank is one of the noisiest Ijirds imaginable, whether 

 it be on shingl}' beach or moss-covered broad, or on the shores of a lake in the 

 mountain. The birds protest loudly against an}- intrusion, and will ll_\' round 

 and round, occasionally settling with upraised wings and tail on a rock or on the 

 biiugh of a dead tree or stump. The cry is very like a shrill 'mew,' interrupted by 

 a constant clatter of ■ Kitty, Kitty,' ' Kiup,' till it becomes distracting. In the 

 autumn, Redshanks are found either singly or in small parties on the sea-shore, and 

 are then equally detestable for the way in which they startle every bird within shot. 

 The nest is a depression in the ground, or in a hummock, and is generally well 

 concealed by the surrounding grass. The eggs are four in number, pear-shaped, 

 and rather large, measuring an inch-and-three-quarters to nearly two inches in length. 

 The colour is clay-brown, with blackish-brown spots and blotches. 

 This small species, 

 which is only about 

 nine-and-a-half inches 

 in length, is an in- 

 habitant of Southern 

 Europe, e.xtending into Central Asia and 

 Eastern Siberia, and wintering in Africa, 

 India and Australia. Mr. Walter Roths- 

 child shot a bird on Tring Reservoir which 

 he believes to have been of this species, 

 but the specimen was unfortunately des- 

 troyed in a lire, so that the occurrence of the 

 species in England requires confirmation. The Maksh-Gri enshank. 



THE M.\RSH- 

 GREENSHANK. 



{Tofaiius 

 singnatilis.) 



