THE REDSHANK 301 



localities it frequents during the winter, and those 

 to which it retires during the breeding season, 

 though less confined to the Northern counties 

 during the latter period. Although a resident, a 

 considerable number of these birds arrive in this 

 country in the autumn from the Continent. The 

 plumage in winter is also diverse from that in 

 summer, the latter being light brown above, streaked 

 and barred with brown, secondary feathers whitish, 

 rump white ; tail-feathers also white, barred with 

 black ; legs and feet red (in the mature bird). In 

 the winter plumage the upper parts are ash-colour, 

 the rump and under parts white, streaked and 

 spotted with ashy-gray. A somewhat slender and 

 very graceful bird. Writing of these birds, Dixon 

 remarks : ' They are conspicuous objects when 

 perched on the top of a tuft of cotton-grass or 

 rushes, and look very pretty as they trip round 

 the margin of the pools, or even run along the 

 rough walls and fences in their anxiety and excite- 

 ment. The male bird at this season may often 

 be seen soaring into the air, and descending with 

 wings and tail expanded, uttering a shrill note 

 very rapidly ; and he often begins these flights 

 from a stump, wall, or a tree, and returns to the 

 same place, much after the manner of the meadow 

 pipits that live upon the moors with him.' 



Saunders says : 'Its flight is quick, though 

 somewhat wavering, the white band on the ex- 

 tended wing being very conspicuous.' 



The curlew is considerably the largest member 



