By Marsh and Mere 



herein lies the cause of the sound. Others 

 attribute it to the rush of air through the out- 

 stretched tail-feathers, and some, among whom 

 is Mr Howard Saunders, think that it is a 

 vocal achievement, though even he confesses that 

 he is completely puzzled by it. Redshank dart 

 past you or beat slowly up against the wind, 

 uttering their plaintive whistling notes at intervals. 

 Occasionally a bird settles on a post, if there 

 chance to be one at hand, the better to watch 

 the intruder, and to one accustomed to see the 

 Redshank only on the seashore, stalking over the 

 mudflats or wading into the pools, this perching 

 habit of the nesting season is particularly striking. 



Both Snipe and Redshank sit lightly, and will 

 employ all manner of strategy to distract your 

 attention from their young. Their nests are 

 placed on the ground, usually well-hidden in some 

 clump of long grass or rushes, and there is a close 

 resemblance between the four pyriform eggs of 

 the Snipe and those of the Redshank. Both vary 

 in ground colour from stone grey to a warm clay 

 brown ; both are heavily blotched and spotted, 

 especially at the larger end, with rich blackish 

 brown; but those of the Redshank are slightly 

 the larger. 



There is, however, little likelihood of confusing 

 the birds, differing as they do, both in shape and 

 colouring. The Snipe's long, straight bill is 

 perhaps its most conspicuous feature, being almost 



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