282 Allen's naturallst's library. 



Range outside the British Islands. — The breeding-area of the 

 Green-shank extends from Cireat Britain to vScandinavia, 

 Northern Europe generally, and Northern Asia to the Stanovoi 

 Mountains in P^aslern Siberia. In winter this species visits 

 South Africa, India, and China, and even reaches Australia, 

 passing through the intervening countries on its passage. 



Habits. — I have always found the Green-shank a very shy 

 bird, and extremely difficult to whistle within range. The few 

 specimens which I was able to procure in the tidal harbours of 

 the south coast have always been birds of the year, and I have 

 never seen the species in flocks, but always singly. Nor have 

 I seen it consorting with Red-shanks or other shore-birds. It 

 nests on hilly ground, and in the biecding-season is as wary as it 

 is during its migration to and fro in England. Its food consists 

 of the usual fare common to waders, but from its large size it 

 is able to capture prey unattempted by its smaller relations. 

 Thus tadpoles and frogs have been discovered to form part 

 of its diet, ani even small minnows have been found in its 

 stomach. 



Nest. — Sometimes built in a tuft of grass, or concealed 

 amongst the heath and short herbage ; it is, according to Mr. 

 Seebohm, very slight, being a mere depression in the ground, 

 lined with a few bits of dry grass or withered leaves. 



. Eggs. — Four ill number, and like large Wood-Tattlers' in 

 appearance. The ground-colour varies from creamy-buff to 

 deep clay-brown. The spots and blotches are deep chestnut, 

 often blackish, and, as a rule, congregated round the larger 

 end of the egg. AVhen distributed over the surface of the 

 latter they are smaller, and are accompanied by iiumerous 

 little dots and freckles, and the underlying grey spots and 

 T)lotches are almost as much in evidence as the dark over- 

 lying ones. Axis, i'8-2-i inches; diam., i'25-i*35. 



THE SUMMER-SNIPES. GENUS TRINGOIDES. 



Tringoides^ Bp. Saggio distr. Met. An. Vert. p. 58 (1831). 



Type, T. hypokucus (Linn.). 



The Summer-Snipes, of which our " Common Sandpiper," 

 as it is usually called, is the type, belong to the short-billed 

 section of the Tattlers. The bill is not so long as the tail, 



