220 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



and elsewhere, quite early in August, but they do not as 

 a rule winter in these islands, save occasionally in the 

 milder climate of the west of Ireland and Scotland. A few 

 nest in Scotland. The bill of the Greenshank is nearly 

 2 in. long and is slightly upturned. Total length, 12 in. 

 to 14 in. ; weight in good condition, 10 oz. 



THE REDSHANK, Totanus calidris, is one of the com- 

 monest of our shore birds and at the same time one of 

 the noisiest. This bird is the self-constituted watchman 

 of the shore, as, apparently, his one aim in life is to warn 

 all other fowl of the approach of a possible enemy. 

 Many chances have I had destroyed by the Redshank's 

 piercing call just as I was nearing the end of some 

 arduous stalk after duck or curlew. The Redshank 

 still nests in many suitable situations in these islands. 

 Length, 1 1 in. ; weight, up to 6 oz. 



THE SPOTTED REDSHANK, Totanus fuscus, is a 

 rather rare visitor to these islands on its autumn and 

 spring migrations. In spring it presents a very black 

 appearance, but in autumn does not differ much in respect 

 of plumage from the Common Redshank. It is however 

 a larger and longer-legged bird than the latter. I have 

 shot several of these large Redshanks in East Yorkshire 

 in October, and it is just possible that from their general 

 resemblance to the common species at that time of year, 

 they may frequently be overlooked by those not keenly 

 alive to matters ornithological. Length, rather more 

 than i ft. ; weight, up to 7 oz. 



THE RUFF, Machetes pugnax, female REEVE, was a 

 plentiful nesting species in the Fen-lands of olden time ; 

 now it is extremely doubtful whether a single pair of 

 these birds can be found breeding there. The Ruff is 



