348 CHARADRIIDA# 
FrEEr. Deep red; much longer than those of the Com- 
mon Redshank. 
Irwwes. Blackish-brown. 
AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 
TOTAL LENGTH ... oe ssa ilien wee 
WING a ae ae 6°25 
28 oe. 
Brak ee oa ne vw |) aes 
TTARSO-METATARSUS Lee cea ee 
Hee ae tse Sa co. ©=| 85 xX ee 
GREENSHANK. TVotanus canescens (J. F. Gmelin). 
Coloured Figures.—Gould, ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ vol. iv, pl. 
53; Dresser, ‘ Birds of Europe,’ vol. viii, pl. 570; Lilford, 
‘Coloured Figures,’ vol. v, pl. 52. 
The Greenshank is the largest of our British Sandpipers 
(Totanus), being hardly inferior in size to the Bar-tailed 
Godwit. It is tolerably common on the coast during 
migration in autumn, and again on the return journey in 
spring. 
In winter, large numbers pass southward, though this 
species may be seen on our shores at almost all seasons of 
the year. The observations of Mr. Warren? show that this 
wading-bird is one of the earliest to return from its breeding- 
haunts, appearing occasionally on the Mayo coast at the 
end of June, or early in July. 
From the Redshank it may readily be distinguished by 
its superior size, longer legs and feet of a totally different 
colour, and by the greater display of white* on the throat, 
breast, and abdomen (Plate XXXVI.).. Nor is the Green- 
' A flock of fourteen was observed on the Mayo coast on June 19th, 
1878, by Mr. Warren, and I have frequently seen small gatherings 
during June and July, on the slob-lands of the Dublin coast. 
> A recently shot adult Greenshank in full winter-plumage with its 
unsullied white breast and abdomen, and richly chequered grey back 
and wings, is a strikingly beautiful creature, as it lies with extended 
wings and tail on the dark slimy ooze. 
