THE REDSHANK. 205 



often alight on the sea where it is deep ; but to the surprise 

 of a shooter here, on one occasion (November 20, 1847), three of 

 them appeared swimming about and busily feeding on the surface 

 of water about eight feet in depth. From their turning quickly 

 about in all directions, he at first imagined they might be grey 

 phalaropes, or some rare birds ; but on his approach, they gave 

 forth the well-known cry of the redshank, and he saw, as they 

 took wing, that they were of this species. A redshank, pursued 

 by a hawk, here, was observed by two men fishing, to fly direct 

 for the boat in which they were, as if for safety, and when within 

 about two yards of them, it dived completely under water six or 

 seven times, so often as the hawk made a stoop. At length, the 

 bird betook itself to the air, and was probably captured, as the 

 hawk was gaining on it when they both disappeared from the 

 sight of the fishermen. 



What may seem timidity or fear on the part of the redshank, 

 should rather be attributed to restlessness of disposition. It is 

 in tins respect on the shore what the blackbird is in the thicket. 

 Its varied action on the ground is very pleasing, and the nodding 

 of the head is often quite grotesque; indeed, at Eoundstone, 

 Connemara, where the bird is numerous, it is commonly known 

 by the name of shake* on account of this habit. The restless- 

 ness of the redshank is manifest even on the wing, for not more 

 than a moment does a flock present the same appearance. It is 

 now a round ball, next instant shoots out like a sky-rocket, 

 appears in single file, and, after assuming every imaginable form, 

 perhaps rolls itself into a ball again ; the whole being done with 

 equal rapidity and grace, whether it rises high into the ah', or 

 sweeps the surface of the sea. 



Every month in the year the redshank may be seen about our 

 shores, though in the breeding season not more than one will be 

 met with for a hundred at other times. Little flocks, as well as 

 single birds and pairs, occur on the coast in the height of summer. 

 On the 13th of June, 1832, when visiting the Mew Island, 



* The late Mr. John Nimmo. 



