THE BIRDS OF ION A AND MULL. 233 



are usually solitary, though at times they go in small nocks, when 

 half a dozen or more may be killed at a shot. When accidentally dis- 

 turbed among the rocks the redshank flies off, uttering a loud, clear, 

 and rather musical call, half -whistle, half -cry, which is sufficiently 

 alarming to any other birds in the vicinity ; but if you come upon 

 him unexpectedly and suddenly while screwing yourself among the 

 rocks with the object of stalking some other birds, it is ten to one 

 that he will not only cry out but continue fluttering about overhead, 

 making such shrill vociferations as not only to sound an alarm, but 

 to inform all the birds along the whole shore of your whereabouts and of 

 all your intentions, who so thoroughly understand their little monitor 

 that they immediately take the hint and are off. In this manner the 

 redshank is such a good friend and sentinel for all manner of shore 

 birds, whether waders or swimmers, that before commencing to stalk, 

 it is as well to scan the shore to see if there is a redshank on the line, 

 and if there is, to give him as wide a berth as possible by making any 

 amount of extra circuit. 



THE GREENSHANK. 

 Is an unusual bird, quite a rarity. 



THE COMMON SANDPIPER. 



Summer visitant, whose brisk little pipe is always associated with 

 early summer, and is heard not only on the banks of our inland fresh- 

 water lochs, but on those of the great salt-water inlets, and along the 

 more sheltered and least rugged coasts of the seashore. 



THE DUNLIN. 



Is common both in summer and winter plumage. These little 

 birds, I believe, vary in size a good deal ; at least I have often shot 

 specimens so much smaller than the others around them as at first 

 to lead me to suppose they were another variety. 



THE CURLEW SANDPIPER. 



Is occasionally shot among other sandpipers and small frequenters 

 of the ebb. 



