THE COMMON REDSHANK. 



255 



south of the village, where it was supposed they had bred 

 in the previous year ; and shortly afterwards he showed to 

 my wife the nest containing four eggs, which she sketched 

 on the spot. 



The Eedshank generally breeds in wild, marshy places, 

 and the nest is but a slight depression in the ground, lined 

 with a little dry grass. It lays four eggs, somewhat like 

 those of the Lapwing in general appearance, though they 

 have a lighter ground colour and redder spots. It is very 

 noisy when the nest is approached.^ The food consists of 

 worms and small aquatic creatures of various kinds. 



A rock called " Eedshank's Eock," on the coast, a little 

 distance to the north of Coldingham Shore village, has 

 apparently derived its name from this bird. 



1 On approacliing its nesting ground in the field on Swinton Hill Farm I 

 observed that the birds became very noisy, and Hew round about me uttering loud 

 calls. Occasionally they alighted on the top of the hawthorn hedge and sat there 

 for a short time. 



