424 



SCOLOPACID^ 



access to muddy marshes. It does not, indeed, coniine 

 itself to such places, for it is not unfrequently to be seen 

 on the sea-shore, feeding in the neighbourhood of Dunlins, 

 Knots, Grey Plovers, and other Waders ; or, when its 

 favourite haunts are covered by the tide, a sohtary bird or 

 a party of three or four meet or overtake the stroller by 

 the sea-side, taking care to keep at a respectful distance 

 from liim, either by flying high over his head or sweeping 



TllK CO.MJlUN EKiJSHAXK. 



along, a few feet above the surface of the sea, in the line of 

 the breakers or in the trough outside them. They may 

 easily be distinguished from any other common bird of 

 the same tribe by the predominance of white in their 

 plumage. Other waders, such as Dunlins and Sanderlings, 

 present the dark and light sides of their plumage alter- 

 nately, but the Eedshank shows its dark and white feathers 

 simultaneously, and if seen only on the wing might be 



