LONG-BILLED RUNNING BIRDS. 259 



white, with dark streaks on face, neck, and breast ; 

 bill dull green, tipped black ; legs dull green. Winter 

 migrant. 



The Green Sandpiper is observed usually in April 

 and May, and from August onwards — most commonly 

 in the month of August. It frequents the borders of 

 inland waters and ponds, often singly, but sometimes 

 in small parties. A favourite haunt is a narrow, 

 deep-cut stream running through woodland. Here 

 one ma}^ see it searching the borders, or standing 

 stolidly in a shallow, quietly prodding the stream-bed 

 with its long bill. The green of bill and legs is 

 best seen at such a time, though in this country it 

 is hard to come near the bird. When disturbed 

 it rises quietly, but as it flies sends back a three- 

 syllabled note, ' Tui-tui-tui ! ' very like the note of 

 the Common Sandpiper in pitch and delivery. On 

 the wing it looks very dark above and very white 

 below, whilst the white tract at the root of the tail, 

 and the white tail itself, with its short, thick black 

 bars at the end, are thrown up in strong contrast 

 to the blackish -brown of the wings and back. 

 This bird has the most peculiar habit for a Sand- 

 piper of placing its eggs in old nests of other birds 

 in trees, or sometimes in a squirrel's drey. 



REDSHANK.— Form, like Greenshank (plate 110). 

 11 inches. General colour above light brown, with 

 dark-brown streaks ; lower back and rump white, 

 with some black spots and bars near the tail ; central 

 tail-feathers pale brown, outer ones white, both with 

 darker cross - bars ; wings dark, except the central 



2h 



