SANDPIPER. GRALLATORES. TOTANUS. 73 



occurring between authors, who must be referred to for con- 

 sultation, renders the identity of species and the collation of 

 synonyms a matter of considerable difficulty, and very often 

 of great uncertainty ; the descriptions appended being in 

 many instances so short and unsatisfactory, as to make it al- 

 most impossible to say with decision to what bird they really 

 belong. Among the synonyms quoted by recent writers as 



!__!- * il. T J I 1_ j.1- . S~1 1-JJ-. _ T_. t- ,; 



belonging to the Redshank, is the Gambetta of PENNANT^ 



British Zoology ; but this, I think, belongs more proper] 

 to the Rujf (Tringa pitgnax of authors) in its young state, 

 or after it has lost its nuptial dress ; and, as 



seems in favour of such an opinion, I have attached it to 1 * 

 that bird. The Tringa Eewickii of MONTAGU, and Totanus 

 Bewickii of STEPHENS, a bird described by BEWICK from 

 two specimens sent to him from Lincolnshire, also appears 

 to belong to the Ruff rather than to the Redshank ; indeed, 

 BEWICK'S description corresponds very closely with speci- 

 mens of the Reeve in my collection. Tringa striata of LA- 

 THAM certainly belongs to this species in its young, or nest- 

 ling, feathers ; but the other synonyms quoted by him refer 

 to the Purple (or Rock) Tringa (Tringa maritimd). Du- 

 ring the winter the Redshank is found upon the sea-coast, 

 and about the mouths of rivers, in small flocks ; but on the 

 approach of spring it retires inland, to the fenny parts of the 

 country, where it breeds. Its nest is placed on some large Nest, &c. 

 tuft of grass in the marshes, or on the ground in moist mea- 

 dows ; and is there formed by lining a shallow hole or de- 

 pression with dry grasses and other vegetable remains. The 

 eggs, four in number, are rather smaller than those of VaneL 

 lus cristatus (Common Lapwing), in colour a deep oil-green, 

 blotched with blackish-brown ; with the spots most numerous 

 at the larger end. During incubation, when disturbed from 

 its nest, this bird is very vociferous, flying round the in- 

 truder, and unceasingly uttering its shrill and piping notes. 

 Upon the coast it is generally very wild and wary, and, as 

 it always gives a loud whistle upon first rising, it spreads an 



