300 GREENSHANK. 



GREENSHANK. 



TOTANUS GLOTTIS. 



Family Charadriid.e. Genus Totanus. 



Cinereous Godwit — Green-legged Horseman. 



Although possibly some of our young readers may 

 meet with this bird, yet they are scarcely likely to 

 meet with its nest and eggs, for it only breeds locally 

 in a very few spots, principally in the Highlands of 

 Scotland and the Hebrides ; consequently a short 

 notice is all that is necessary. 



To our English coasts the Greenshank is a summer 

 visitor, though not at all abundant, and on its arrival 

 it begins to work its way inland immediately for the 

 high moorlands and heaths, especially in the vicinity 

 of water. It is most partial to the low-lying and flat 

 coasts of the eastern counties. 



It is an extremely shy and wary bird ; so much so 

 that it is said it will rise in the air and begin calling 

 loudly before the observer is within half a mile of it. 

 Meyer says that the only way to get it within range of 

 a gun is by placing a stufTed bird of the same species 

 on the ground and hiding oneself, when a live Green- 

 shank will probably be attracted, as they are of a very 

 sociable nature among one another. 



They feed chiefly upon insects and worms ; also, it 

 is said, on small fish and tadpoles. The bird may be 

 easily recognised by its long olive-green legs and feet. 

 The general colour of the upper parts in breeding 

 plumage is dusky black, margined with grey ; the 

 under parts are white, streaked with dark brown. The 

 plumage undergoes very great changes. 



The nest is on the ground, well hidden amongst the 



