of the Norfolk and Suffolk Birds. 45 



give the bird a surer footing when wading upon soft mud. In 

 consequence of this structure, the inner toes of each foot must 

 necessarily sink deeper than the outer ones, and secure the bird 

 from all dang-er of fallino- over on either side. 



2. T. Calidris (Redshank, Red-legs). 



A specimen of this bird, examined April 28th, varied from 

 the descriptions given by Linnœus and IVIontagu. The base of 

 the lower mandible only was red ; the coverts of the primaries 

 were purplish on their outer webs, and dusky black on their 

 inner. Montagu saj^s " the secondaries are tipped with white :" 

 in the above specimen they were more than half white. 



The Redshank is found in considerable numbers in many of 

 the marshes both of Norfolk and Suffolk during the breeding 

 season. It is indeed more common than any other kind of 

 wader. To sportsmen it is very troublesome, tiying around 

 them and uttering an incessant shrill whistle, which alarms all the 

 birds near the spot. A few Redshanks are sometimes met with 

 during the winter season, but the greater part of them migrate. 

 This species is found solitary and also in tlocks on the ooze of 

 the river Stour. The ordinary posture of the young Redshank 

 is with the head sunk back between the shoulders, the back of 

 the neck being void of featliers, like that of the Bittern. 



3. T. Ochropus (Green Sandpiper). 



We cannot positively affirm that this species breeds here, 

 though it seems probable that it sometimes does so, as five 

 Green Sandpipers were constantly found one summer near the 

 old decoy at Levington in Sutiblk. It is seen in these counties 

 throuo-hout the winter. 



■&' 



4. T. Ili/poleucos (Common Sandpiper, Summer Snipe). 



The Common Snipe comes up the river Gipping in Suffolk in 



the 



