82 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



nets catch. They do dash into these at any rate ; 

 and you may see a grim smile on the face of the 

 net-setter as he takes them out, remarking 

 " There's a few more damned Yelpers settled." 



The birds are fair eating ; so that a catch of a 

 dozen Redshanks is at least profitable. From a 

 shooter's point of view, the bird is a sad nuisance to 

 those who wander by flats, marshes, and lonely fore- 

 shores, carrying a gun more for company than any 

 other purpose ; and a gun is very good company, 

 never making a noise unless you wish it to do so. 

 This restless, shrill-voiced bird is one of the greatest 

 ornaments that frequent such places ; he is so well 

 shaped ; in fact one may call him a well-set-up bird. 

 When on the slub, no matter if it is hard or soft, he 

 is a difficult bird to sight, whether he be following 

 the receding tide, or nimbly getting his food on the 

 flow-up ; for the upper plumage falls in with the 

 grey slub, and the light under-parts with the white 

 stones and foam-bells scattered about on the slub. 



He has vexed me enough in past times, but that 

 is nothing ; he has done the same with others, and 

 his race will continue to do it all the time the tide 

 flows up and down the creeks, slubs, and sand-flats. 

 If I were asked to pick out a bird that should be a 

 representative type of his family for alertness and 

 dashing activity in all seasons and in all weathers, 

 I should certainly pick out our old acquaintance the 

 Redshank. 



That dashing wanderer the Green Sandpiper is 

 always on the move, coming and going with his 



