700 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



tail somewhat shorter, and the groove of the bill not extending 

 quite to the tip. 



There are two types in tliis genus, even as restricted, the one 

 witli the plumage more like that of Actitis, and barely changing in 

 summer ; the other changing in summer, and becoming more or 

 less dusky black. 



l^^. With the bill slightly ascending, (Glottis, Nilsson.) 



894. Totanus glottis, Linn^us. 



Scolopax, apud LinnJsUS — Blyth, Cat. 1578 — T. glottoides, 

 ViQons — T. nivigula, HoDGSON — Stkes, Cat. 195— Jerdon 

 Cat. 349— Gould, Cent. Him. Birds, pi. 76— Gould, Birds of 

 Europe, pi. 312 — Timtimma or Tuntuna, H. from its call — Gotra, 

 Beng. 



The Greenshanks. 



Descr. — In winter plumage, the head, cheeks, sides, and back of 

 neck, cinereous white with brown streaks; upper back, scapulars, 

 and wing-coverts, dusky brown, the feathers edged with yellowish 

 white ; the lower back "and upper tail-coverts pure white ; quills 

 dusky, some of them spotted with white on their inner webs; tail 

 white with cross bars of brown, the outer feathers entirely white 

 with the exception of a narrow streak on the outer web ; throat, 

 foreneck, middle of the breast, and lower parts pure white ; the 

 sides of the breast streaked with brown, and somewhat ashy. 



Bill dusky greenish ; irides brown ; legs yellowish-green. 

 Length 14 to 15 inches ; extent 25 ; wing 8 ; tail 3| ; bill at front 

 2y\j ; tarsus 2|. 



The Greenshanks is to be seen in every part of India, usually 

 alone, now and then in small parties. It chiefly frequents the edges 

 of rivers, tanks, or pools, but is now and then put up from an 

 inundated rice field, or low swamp. It rises with a loud shrill 

 cry, which the native name attempts to imitate. It is excellent 

 eating ; as Pallas I'emarked, ' Sapidlssima avis in patina.' It 

 reaches this country towards the middle or end of September, 

 and leaves for the North in April. 



The next species is closely related to the Greenshanks, of which 

 4t may be said to be a diminutive form, but its summer change of 



