484 SCOLOPAClDiE. 



more frequent on the marshes and tidal rivers which cha- 

 racterize the eastern districts, yet it has been obtained in 

 nearly every county of England, including those most inland. 

 By the end of July young birds are observed on their return 

 migration, but they do not as a rule tarry long, and instances 

 such as those recorded by Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jun. (Zool. 

 s.s. p. 2537), of birds obtained in December and January 

 in Oxfordshire and Berkshire, and by Mr. Eodd in Cornwall, 

 are exceptional. Flocks of a dozen birds are rare even in 

 autumn, and small parties, or single birds, are the rule. 



In Ireland it is not uncommon in spring and autumn, 

 especially in the vicinity of Clew Bay, co. Mayo, and, owing 

 to the mildness of the climate, it is more frequently found 

 there in winter than in England. Many localities in Ireland 

 would seem to be suitable as breeding-grounds : neverthe- 

 less, it has not yet been known to breed in that island. 



In Scotland, where the Greenshank is well known on 

 migration, a tolerable number of pairs are also found breed- 

 ing. Macgillivray, who was the first to record the fact, 

 furnished the following notice of its habits as observed in 

 the Hebrides to his friend Audubon* : — " The Greenshank 

 is seen in the outer Hebrides early in spring, and generally 

 departs in October, although I have observed individuals 

 there in November. Previous to the commencement of the 

 breeding-season, and after the young are fledged, it resorts 

 to the shores of the sea, frequenting pools of brackish water 

 at the head of the sand-fords, and the shallow margins of 

 bays and creeks. Its habits are very similar to those of 

 the Redshank, with ^vhich it associates in autumn. It is 

 extremely shy and vigilant, insomuch that one can very 

 seldom shoot it, unless after it has deposited its eggs. 

 Many individuals remain during the summer, when they are 

 to be found by the lakes in the interior, of which the 

 number in Uist, Harris, and Lewis is astonishing. At that 

 season it is very easily discovered, for when you are perhaps 

 more than a quarter of a mile distant, it rises into the air 

 with clamorous cries, alarming all the birds in its neigh- 

 * Ornithological Biography, vol. iii. p. 483. 



