A AD NEIGHBOURHOOD. 93 



watched a solitary Redshank for a considerable time 

 as I and my companion lay concealed within a few 

 yards of the low spit of gravel upon which it stood ; 

 this individual had apparently satisfied its hunger, 

 as it remained on the same spot, but we were 

 amused by its continual nods of the head, flirts of 

 the tail, and apparent absorption of observation of 

 some object in the shallow water within a few inches 

 of its " stand " ; at length my friend suggested that 

 the bird must have a bowing acquaintance with a 

 small grey mullet, and was probably communicating 

 its ideas to the fish by signs, of which it was 

 impossible for us to learn the meaning, so we moved 

 on towards our vessel at anchor, and the Redshank 

 sprung into the air with a loud outcry ; that there 

 was some meaning in these nods, I have not a doubt, 

 as the bird was very wideawake during our watch, 

 but I must confess much as I should have liked to 

 prolong it, I could not disagree with my unornitho- 

 logical companion in his opinion as to the probable 

 result. The Redshank is very noisy when dis- 

 turbed or suddenly alarmed, and although its note 

 is by no means unmusical, and is connected in my 

 mind with many pleasant memories of rambles in 

 the marshes, I have very often wished that the bird 

 was congenitally mute, for it is a more efficient and 

 more abundant sentinel on a Snipe-marsh than tlie 

 Green Sandpiper, which generally goes riglit away, 

 whilst the present bird flies around with a clamour 

 that arouses the most plethoric of Snipes to wariness, 

 and often clears the swamp of all but a few " Jacks." 

 The Redshank is common in all suitable localities 

 in Europe, and besides the sort of places above 

 mentioned, may often be found at the times of 



