COMMON REDSHANK. 207 
1866. May 20th. A pair in the possession of the 
Rev. M. A. Mathew, of Weston Super-mare, for the 
knowledge of which I am indebted to Mr. J. EH. Harting, 
were killed on Breydon in full summer plumage, with 
other scarce migrants. 
1867. October 5th. An adult bird killed at Yar- 
mouth. 
TOTANUS CALIDRIS (Linnexus). 
COMMON REDSHANK. 
That the shy clamorous Redshank should still fre- 
quent our marshes during the breeding season, to be 
classed as a resident as well as a migratory species, is 
but another proof of the affection of these wild races 
for their long accustomed haunts. Drainage and culti- 
vation, by changing alike the nature and the aspect 
of the soil, has more effectually banished the redshank 
and the snipe, in very many localities, than years of 
indiscriminate egging* had been able to accomplish, 
and that such is the case was evinced in a very 
remarkable manner in the great “ flood” year of 1852-3, 
when some thousands of acres in the ‘ Fen” district 
were laid under water, by the bursting of the river bank 
latter year Mr. F. Hele, of Aldeburgh, in Suffolk, recorded in the 
“Field” of September 16th, the occurrence of a pair at Thorpe 
mere, “ very rare in that neighbourhood.” 
* Mr. Lubbock, speaking of the wholesale robbery of the lap- 
wing’s nests, says, “ Nearly a bushel of eggs have been gathered 
by two men in a morning, principally from this bird; but the 
redshank, the reeve, and various terns were also put under con- 
tribution, their eggs, though smaller, being equal in point of 
flavour; and being less inclined to lay again and more impatient 
of the theft than the lapwing, this system of robbery did them 
much more harm.” 
