SPOTTED REDSHANK. 589 



in the foreground of the representations here given is from 

 an adult bird in its perfect winter plumage, obtained in the 

 London market ; the figure in the background is from a 

 specimen in summer plumage, obtained some years since in 

 the fens of Cambridgeshire. The finest specimens in summer 

 plumage I have yet seen are in the collection of Richard 

 Dann, Esq., who in several summer excursions, when fish- 

 ing and shooting in Norway and Lapland, found these birds 

 breeding in stagnant mosses within the Arctic circle. Mr. 

 Dann says, that though close search was made for their 

 nests he was unable to find their eggs ; several pairs of the 

 birds were obtained, which, while on the wing, utter two 

 short notes (wee wit) in quick succession. M. Nilsson says 

 the Spotted Redshank breeds in various parts of Scandina- 

 via, but the eggs are also unknown to him. Old and young 

 leave the high northern ground in August, and are seen in 

 Sweden on their passage southward in small families. Muller 

 includes this species in his Zoologia Danica, and from 

 these northern shores it may be traced southwards to Hol- 

 land, France, Spain, Provence, Switzerland, and Italy, in 

 each of which countries it is seen on its passage in spring 

 and autumn. It inhabits the sea-shore, the borders of rivers 

 and lakes, morasses and water meadows, feeding on worms, 

 aquatic insects, and small testacea. The stomachs of Mr. 

 Bartletfs specimens contained only very minute spiral uni- 

 valves. 



This species is found in Nepal and in the vicinity of 

 Calcutta. 



The adult bird in its winter plumage has the beak black, 

 except at the base, where it is bright red ; the irides dark 

 brown ; from the nostril to the eye a dusky grey streak : 

 above that a white streak as far as the eye ; top of the 

 head, back of the neck, and upper part of the back, ash 



