82 



GREENSHANK (AUTUMN). 



Case 98. 



This case represents the mature and immature 

 in autumn plumage. 



In the spring the old birds are remarkably 

 wary, but in the autumn they appear to lay aside 

 their shyness and when discovered on the mudbanks 

 in company with Eedshanks and other Waders 

 generally fall easy victims to the punt-gunners. 



Their loud whistle is often distinguished at 

 night among the calls of the various species of 

 mudbirds which may be heard during stormy 

 weather in the autumn. 



The specimens were shot on Breydon mudflats 

 near Yarmouth in September, 1872. 



SHOVELLER. (MATURE). 



Case 99. 



This handsome bird may be found from north 

 to south, though nowhere particularly abundant ; 

 it nests in several different counties and its 

 numbers receive considerable additions from the 

 continent in the beginning of the winter. 



I was particularly unlucky with the finest 

 drake of this species I ever killed. Just at day- 

 break I made out a pair feeding among the water- 

 plants on Heigham Sounds, and sculling quietly up 

 within distance I fired with good effect, stopping 

 both birds, but on proceeding to the spot I dis- 

 covered that the oakum wad of the punt-gun having 

 struck the male on the neck had completely blown 

 away his head, the remains of which I found lying 

 with the wad about twenty yards distant from the 

 body. The colours in that specimen were by far 

 the brightest and most clearly defined that I ever 

 noticed. 



