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THE WHIMBREL. 423 



% 



at two periods of the year, in May and August, when per- 

 forming its migrations. It resembles the Curlew both in 

 figure and habits, though much smaller in size ; its note, 

 too, is like the whistle of that bird, but somewhat higher. 

 It is gregarious, but unsociable with other birds. The 

 extreme southern limit at which the Whimbrel breeds is 

 considered to be the Orkney and Shetland Islands. It is 

 known to visit most of the countries of Europe and Asia 

 in spring and autumn, but is nowhere very abundant. 



THE SPOTTED EEDSHANK. 



TOTANUS FUSCUS. 



Winter Upper plumage ash-grey ; rump and all the lower parts white ; a dusky 

 band between the bill and eye, edged above with white ; sides and front of the 

 neck mottled with white and ash ; tail and coverts barred with white and 

 dusky ; bill black ; the base of the lower mandible red ; feet bright red. 

 Summer Upper plumage dusky; wing-coverts and scapulars spotted with 

 white ; lower plumage dusky ash ; feathers of the breast and belly ending 

 with a narrow white crescent ; feet brown, tinged with red. Length twelve 

 inches. 



AN occasional visitor to the British Isles, observed either 

 in early spring, when on its way .to high latitudes where it 

 breeds, or in autumn, while returning southwards. Its 

 nest and eggs are unknown. 



THE COMMON EEDSHANK. 



TOTANUS CALIDRIS. 



Winter Upper plumage ash-brown ; throat, sides of the head, streak over the 

 eye, neck, and breast, greyish white ; rump, belly, and abdomen, white ; tail 

 marked transversely with black and white zigzag bars, tipped with white ; 

 feet and lower half of both mandibles red. Summer Upper feathers ash- 

 brown, with a broad dusky streak in the centre : under parts white, spotted 

 and streaked with dusky ; feet and lower half of both mandibles vermilion 

 red. Length twelve inches. Eggs greenish yellow, blotched and spotted 

 with brown. 



THE Eedshank is a bird of frequent occurrence on all such 

 parts of the coast as are suited to its habits. Nowhere, I 

 suppose, is it more abundant than on the coast of Norfolk 

 at least, on those parts of the coast where it can have 



