228 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



dusky at the point and reddish at the hase. Irides 

 hazel. Crown, nape, back and wing-coverts greyish- 

 brown, spotted and streaked with black ; secondaries 

 tipped with white ; primaries nearly black. Ktimp, 

 tail-coverts, and feathers white, the last barred 

 with dusky black. Over the eye is a white streak, 

 and from the gape to the eye a dusky brown 

 one. Chin, throat, breast, and under-surface of 

 the body greyish- white, spotted and streaked with 

 brownish-black. Legs and toes red ; claws black. 



The female resembles the male, but is larger. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground, in a 

 little hollow or depression, sheltered by an over- 

 hanging tuft of coarse grass or heather, or in the 

 crown of a rush-root, generally well concealed ; in 

 fen, marsh, and boggy districts on the swampy 

 shores of mountain tarns and lochs ; in the eastern 

 counties of England ; also in suitable parts of 

 Scotland and Ireland. 



Materials. A few blades of grass or bits of moss ; 

 often nothing at all. 



Eggs. Four, much pointed at the smaller end ; 

 ground colour varying from pale straw to huffish- 

 brown, spotted and blotched with rich dark brown, 

 and underlying markings of light brown and grey. 

 Size about 1'78 by 1'23 in. Distinguished by th 

 buff ground colour and bold blotches. 



Time. April and May. 



Bemarks. Kesident, but subject to local move- 

 ment. Notes : alarm, a shrill, discordant cry, 

 resembling took or tolk. Local and other names : 

 Eedshank Sandpiper, Pool Snipe, Red-legged Horse- 

 man, Sandcock, Red-legged Sandpiper, Teuke. Sits 

 lightly, and when incubation has advanced, resorts 

 to various alluring tricks to decoy the intruder 

 away from" her eggs. 



