SPOTTED REDSHANK REDSHANK. 155 



distance, which was scarcely done when it became my victim. 

 Immediately on lifting the bird, though I had never seen one 

 before, I knew it to be the spotted redshank, from recollection 

 of Bewick's beautiful figure of that species. It was admirably 

 killed for being stuffed, not a speck of blood being on any 

 part of its plumage, or a wound anywhere visible. To pre- 

 vent the possibility of its plumage being even ruffled from 

 contact with my pocket, the bird was carried in my hand, 

 and when I reached home was most carefully (as I believed) 

 laid aside, preparatory to my absence for a few hours. Alas ! 

 however, on my return the beauteous prize was missing, but 

 was eventually discovered served up at the dinner table in 

 company with a curlew and other vulgar denizens of the shore. 

 My boyish mortification may easily be imagined, as my good 

 fortune in having obtained so fine a specimen of a bird never 

 known to visit the Irish coast, had been the all-engrossing 

 thought of the day." 



Closely resembling the next species in its winter plumage, 

 it may have occurred upon our shores unnoticed. More com- 

 monly observed in France, we are informed by Degland of its 

 habit of standing in water reaching to its abdomen, and peck- 

 ing at water insects as they rise to the surface.* 



Habitat Southern Europe. 



SPECIES 145 THE REDSHANK. 



Totanus calidris. Bechs. 



Chevalier gambette. Temm. 



Pool Snipe. Redlegged Snipe. 



THIS species, the most common of the Irish Totani, is 

 found during all seasons around the coast. Although never 

 occurring in the immense flocks we see the true Tringidse col- 

 lect in, we sometimes observe the redshank in rather consi- 

 derable numbers, and, like the godwit, giving the preference 

 to oozy situations, where the mud is soft and easily probed 

 or penetrated. 



In such places the habits of the redshank are not unworthy 

 of our notice, and when engaged searching for food a flock 

 impart something of animation to the shore ; boring and feed- 

 ing in the sand, they are never stationary for an instant, for 

 when we might suppose one resting for a moment, the body 

 is invariably shaken with a vibrating and tremulous motion. 

 The most favourite of all situations with the redshank is the 



* Ornithologie Europeenne. 



