PLOVERS AND SANDPIPERS. 103 
and take wing as soon as danger threatens, the 
scattered flock soon forming into a compact mass 
again. Between the tides Redshanks often collect 
on some mud-bank, where in a serried throng they 
keep up a confused babel of subdued cries, as if all 
were talking and none listening. Its flight is rapid 
and most unsteady looking—the black and white 
wings producing an idea of irregularity which is more 
imaginary than real. Upon the coast the Red- 
shank feeds on sand-worms, crustaceans, molluscs, 
and such like marine creatures, but during summer 
at its breeding-grounds, worms, insects, ground- 
fruits and berries are among the substances sought. 
The call note of this wader is a loud shrill ¢ya-2yu 
most persistently repeated when the bird is excited 
or alarmed ; whilst during the pairing season the love 
song or trill is happily described by Professor 
Newton—who has had exceptional opportunities 
for observing this species—as a constantly repeated 
leero-leero-leero, accompanied with many gesticu- 
lations, as he hovers in attendance on the flight of 
his mate; “or with a slight change to a different 
key, engages with a rival; or again, half angrily 
and half piteously, complains of a human intruder 
on his chosen ground.”* 
The Redshank breeds somewhat locally in the 
marshy districts of our islands, perhaps most 
commonly in the low-lying eastern counties of 
* Dictionary of Birds, p. 774. 
