TOTANIN^. 701 



plumage is greater ; it is kept by some Systematista under 

 Totonus as restricted. 



895. Totanus stagnatilis, Bechstein. 



Blyth, Cat. 1579 — Limosa Horsfieldii, Sykes, Cat. 196 — 

 Jerdon, Cat. 350 — S. totanus, Linn. — T. Lathami, Gray, 

 Hardw., 111. Ind. Zool. pi.— Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 314 

 — Chota gotra, Beng. 



The Little Green-shanks. 



Descr. — Above pale ashy-brown, the nape streaked with dark- 

 brown, the top of the head and neck, and the scapulars edged 

 with whitish ; eyebrows and cheeks white, spotted with brown ; 

 •greater wing-coverts pale ashy, edged whitish ; the lesser coverts 

 ashy-brown, with paler edges, and the stem black ; quills brown 

 black, the shafts white ; lower back white ; tail white, with brown 

 bands ; beneath pure white ; the sides of the neck, of the breast, 

 and the flanks spotted with brown. 



Bill dusky-green ; irides brovvn ; legs pale green. Length lOi 

 •inches ; wing h\ ; tail 2 ; bill at front If ; tarsus 2^. 



In summer, the plumage becomes very dark above, mixed black, 

 tfufous and ashy, and the lower parts are marked throughout with 

 ^^mall round black spots. 



This pretty little Sandpiper is less generally spread perhaps tha,n 

 any of the preceding species, but is now and then met with in large 

 numbers. It frequents young rice fields, and open marshy spots, 

 but is also seen on the bare edges of tanks. I saw it in large 

 flocks on the banks of the Trichoor Lake in South Malabar, and 

 have obtained it occasionally in various parts of the country. It is 

 found generally throughout the Old Woi-ld, extends as far as 

 Australia, and breeds, as usual, in the North. 



The two next species have red legs, a peculiar coloration, the 

 wings with much white, and the change of plumage very great. 

 They are more social than the other Totanince. They constitute 

 the Gen. Totanus as restricted of some, Gumbetta and Erythro- 

 scelis of Kaup. The first is very unnecessarily separated as 

 ^rythroscelis, of which it is the only species. 



