6o6 GREENSHANK. 



of Scandinavia, Nortiiern Russia, and Siberia in Asia as far east as 

 the Stanowoi Mountains ; while its winter range extends over the 

 greater part of the eastern hemisphere down to the Australian 

 region. On r\Iay 28th 1832 Audubon obtained three specimens in 

 Florida, but since that date the bird has not been noticed in North 

 America ; though examples, said to be from Buenos Ayres and Chili, 

 are in the Leiden Museum. It is well known on the coasts and 

 inland waters of Europe, especially on the autumnal passage, and 

 considerable numbers go no further in winter than the basin of the 

 Mediterranean. 



The nest is often at some distance from water, or even on dry 

 ground among scattered pine-trees, but in Scotland it is generally 

 near the edge of a loch or other fresh water. Mr. Buckley mentions 

 finding three eggs between two stones on May 24th 1869, and on 

 passing the spot on May 26th 187 1 he saw the bird sitting so closely 

 between the same two stones that she did not move until touched 

 with the point of a fishing-rod. The eggs, normally 4 in number, 

 are of a warm stone-colour, with blotches of purplish-grey and spots 

 of rich brown : average measurements i"9 by i"3 in. When its 

 haunts are approached, and especially after the young are hatched, the 

 Greenshank is very vociferous, uttering a loud chee<veet, chee-weei, 

 and swooping round the head of the intruder : at other times it has 

 a strong and rapid flight, while it also perches on trees. It feeds on 

 small fish and spawn, crustaceans, molluscs, worms and beetles, 

 often searching for the latter in meadows frequented by cattle. 



The adult male in summer has the head and neck greyish-white 

 streaked with blackish-brown ; feathers of the mantle and secondaries 

 nearly black, edged with pale grey ; rump pure white ; tail-feathers 

 white, mottled and barred with dusky-brown ; under parts white 

 streaked and spotted with ash-brown on the throat, breast and 

 flanks ; bill slightly upcurved and blackish ; legs and feet olive-green. 

 Total length 14 in. ; wing 7*25 in. In winter the upper parts are 

 greyer and the under surface is pure white. The immature bird has 

 tawny margins to the dorsal feathers, while the chest and flanks are 

 minutely pencilled with blackish-grey. 



It is asserted in Littleboy's ' Birds of Hertfordshire ' that a Marsh- 

 Sandpiper, T. shignaiilis, was shot near Tring Reservoirs in October 

 1887 by Mr. Walter Rothschild, but the owner has hitherto been 

 invited in vain to submit this treasure to competent authorities 

 This Greenshank in miniature has been known to visit Heligoland 

 and Northern France. 



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