218 SCOLOPACID.E. 



the end of which time only, they had all fallen singly to the gun. 

 In another autumn, a similar number were pursued as long with- 

 out one having become a victim. About the 1st of September, 

 1843, eleven greenshanks, together with a number of knots, 

 grey plover, and dunlins were killed at one shot here, with a 

 swivel-gun. 



The greenshank is readily known, on the shore, from the most 

 nearly allied species — the redshank — by superior size ; its note, 

 too, though generically similar, at once distinguishes it from that 

 bird. It sounds like the word twee, prolonged, and uttered 

 moderately slow, three times. The redshank's note is often 

 uttered singly, but occasionally so frequently as five times, and 

 then usually in a hurried manner. The two species sometimes 

 associate : I have known two greenshanks and twenty -three red- 

 shanks to fall at one discharge from a shoulder-gun. Although 

 the latter is a wary and restless bird, the former is still more 

 so, as I have had the opportunity of judging when they were 

 feeding in company; the most trivial sound from a distance 

 alarms it. On the oozy banks and gravelly shore of Belfast Bay, 

 the greenshank may be observed feeding busily — wading very 

 deep in search of its prey, — its partiality for the fresh-water 

 rivulets that course through the mud-banks at low water being 

 manifest. On the borders of Larne Lough, I have observed it 

 feeding. A few specimens, shot in the months of November, 

 December, January, and February (17th), in the north of Ireland 

 (at Coleraine, Belfast Bay, and Strangford Lough) — have come 

 under my notice, but none have yet in the later spring months. 



In autumn and winter, the greenshank is met with regularly in 

 little flocks, consisting of about six individuals, in Dublin Bay,* 

 and I have seen two specimens which were shot there in the 

 month of March, in different years. From August until about April, 

 small numbers are said to frequent Cork harbour ; in Bantry 

 Bay they have been observed ; and " two or three may be daily 

 seen, during the winter months, flying up and down the stream 



* Mr. R. Ball, aud Rev. G. Robinson. 



