THE REDSHANK. 79 



alight, and showing 1 the entire under parts, which are white ; 

 and,, consequently, very conspicuous. 



In the breeding season the Redshanks frequent the 

 most boggy parts of the country, being especially partial 

 to large tracts of fen and marsh. The nest is either formed 

 on, or sheltered by, some tuft or bush of coarse herbage or 

 rank grass, and is composed of the same material. Four 

 eggs are usually laid, in the beginning of May ; they are 

 pale reddish-white, slightly tinged with green, spotted and 

 speckled with dark brownish-red ; the markings are thicker 

 at the larger end. The young birds leave the nest almost 

 immediately they are hatched, and are looked after by the 

 female, the male troubling himself but very little for their 

 welfare. During incubation the parents are very cla- 

 morous if any one approaches the nest, wheeling about in 

 the air, and continually uttering a shrill, discordant cry. 



In the summer months these birds may often be found 

 on the muddy banks of tidal rivers, but only singly or in 

 pairs. 



The plumage is subject to very considerable changes. 

 In winter, the beak is black at the point, and dark red at 

 the base ; irides, brown ; from the angle of the mouth a 

 dusky streak passes to the eye, and over that and the eye 

 is a white streak; top of the head, back of the neck, and 

 the whole of the back and wing coverts are ash brown; 

 the wing primaries almost black ; rump, while ; tail 

 feathers, white, barred with dusky grey ; the chin, front of 

 neck, breast, belly, and under tail coverts, white, with a 

 few dusky streaks ; legs and toes, red ; claws, black. 



In spring, the darker markings are gradually assumed ; 

 the greater coverts and tertials are varied with spots edged 

 with brownish-black ; the white parts of the front of the 



