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THE GREENSHANK. 



ToTANUs Glottis, Bechst. 



PLATE CCLXIX. Male. 



While on Sand Key, which is about six miles distant from Cape 

 Sable of the Floridas, in lat. 24<° 57' north, and 81° 45' long, west of 

 Greenwich, I shot three birds of this species on the 28th of May 1832. 

 I had at first supposed them to be Tell-tale Godwits, as they walked 

 on the bars and into the shallows-much in the same manner, and, on 

 obtaining them, imagined they were new ; but on shewing them to my 

 assistant Mr Ward, who was acquainted with the Greenshank of Europe, 

 he pronounced them to be of that species, and I have since ascertained the 

 fact by a comparison of specimens. They were all male birds, and I 

 observed no material difference in their plumage. We did not find any 

 afterwards ; but it is probable that we had seen some previously, although 

 we did not endeavour to procure them, having supposed them to be Tell- 

 tales. Almost all the birds seen in the Floridas at this date had young 

 or eggs ; and this circumstance increased my surprise at finding all the 

 three individuals to be males. They had been shot merely because they 

 offered a tempting opportunity, being all close together, and it is not often 

 that one can kill three Tell-tales at once. As I am not acquainted with 

 the habits of this species, I have applied to my friend Mr Macgillivray, 

 who has kindly furnished me with the following notice of them as observed 

 in the Hebrides. 



" The Greenshank is seen in the Outer Hebrides early in spring, and 

 generally departs in October, although I have observed individuals there in 

 November. Previovis to the commencement of the breeding-season, and 

 after the young are fledged, it resorts to the shores of the sea, frequenting 

 pools of brackish-water at the head of the sand-fords, and the shallow 

 margins of bays and creeks. Its habits are very similar to those of the 

 Redshank, with which it associates in autumn. It is extremely shy and 

 vigilant, insomuch that one can very seldom shoot it, unless after it has 

 deposited its eggs. Many individuals remain during the summer, when 

 they are to be found by the lakes in the interior, of which the number in 



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