PLOVERS AND SANDPIPERS. 103 



and take wing as soon as danger threatens, the 

 scattered flock soon forming into a compact mass 

 again. Between the tides Redshanks often collect 

 on some mud-bank, where in a serried throng they 

 keep up a confused babel of subdued cries, as if all 

 were talking and none listening. Its flight is rapid 

 and most unsteady looking the black and white 

 wings producing an idea of irregularity which is more 

 imaginary than real. Upon the coast the Red- 

 shank feeds on sand-worms, crustaceans, molluscs, 

 and such like marine creatures, but during summer 

 at its breeding-grounds, worms, insects, ground- 

 fruits and berries are among the substances sought. 

 The call note of this wader is a loud shrill tyu-tyil 

 most persistently repeated when the bird is excited 

 or alarmed ; whilst during the pairing season the love 

 song or trill is happily described by Professor 

 Newton who has had exceptional opportunities 

 for observing this species as a constantly repeated 

 leero-leero-leero, accompanied with many gesticu- 

 lations, as he hovers in attendance on the flight of 

 his mate ; "or with a slight change to a different 

 key, engages with a rival ; or again, half angrily 

 and half piteously, complains of a human intruder 

 on his chosen ground."^ 



The Redshank breeds somewhat locally in the 

 marshy districts of our islands, perhaps most 

 commonly in the low-lying eastern counties of 



* Dictionary of Birds^ p. 774. 



