346 CHARADBIIDJE 



During some seasons it is not infrequent, especially in the 

 south-eastern counties of England. 



In Scotland it has been procured in Haddingtonshire, 

 Banffshire, Aberdeenshire, Elginshire, in the Solway district, 

 and also in the Orkneys. 



The Spotted Redshank is rare in Ireland. About eight 

 examples have been taken, and it has probably been 

 observed some twenty-six l times. It has visited the 

 counties of Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Sligo, Mayo, and Down 

 (E. Warren, 'Birds of Ireland,' pp. 300-301). The first 

 recorded specimen was obtained by Thompson, on August 

 22nd, 1823, at Holywood, Belfast Bay ('Natural History 

 of Ireland,' vol. ii., p. 200). Several have been recorded 

 of recent years on the shores of Dublin Bay by the late 

 Mr. E. Williams, as follows : September, 1888, two seen ; 

 September 24th, 1891, one obtained; October 3rd, 1892, 

 one seen ; September 7th, 1894, one seen. The last- 

 mentioned bird I had the pleasure of observing when in 

 the company of the late Mr. E. Williams; it flew past 

 us at no great distance from the ground, uttering a peculiar 

 note, quite unlike that of the common species. But the 

 most distinguishing feature was the absence of white on 

 the hinder portions of the wings, so well seen on the 

 Common Eedshank when in flight. 



In their habits, this and the preceding species are not 

 unlike, especially with regard to the nature of their 

 feeding-grounds, and the manner in which they freely 

 associate with other shore-birds. The Spotted Eedshank 

 is, on the whole, more partial to fresh or brackish waters, 

 though it is noteworthy that of all the records made by 

 Mr. Warren only two are from inland localities. This 

 bird, with its remarkably long legs and feet (much longer 

 than those of the Common Eedshank), is able to wade to 

 a considerable depth, and has been seen standing, like 

 the Avocet, up to its middle in a pond of water, pecking 

 at the insects as they rose from the surface (Degland, 

 ' Ornithologie Europeenne '). 



Flight. On the wing, this bird is strong and swift, 

 and, like a flushed Snipe, will ascend to a great height 

 when startled, soon disappearing out of sight. 



Voice. The late Mr. E. Williams describes the alarm- 



1 Of these, some sixteen occurrences have been recorded by Mr. K. 

 Warren, from cos. Mayo and Sligo. 



