)50 THE BIRDS OF DEVON. 



[Yellowshank. Totanus flavipes (Gm.). 



When we were at Penzance we were shown by Mr. Yingoe an example 

 of this American Sandpiper which he had shot on a marsh near Marazion 

 on 12th September, lb71. It corresponded exactly with American skins 

 in our possession, and, as Mr. Rodd points out, comes intermediate in size 

 between the Common and Spotted Kedshanks, and has a much shorter 

 beak than either, and of course is at once to be recognized by its yellow 

 legs. We have more than once had young Ruffs, which also have yellow 

 legs, sent to us as examples of this American species. The bird figured 

 as a Yellowshank by Mr. Ross in his MS, ' Journal of Occurrences in Nat. 

 Hist.' (1840, vol. iii. p. 52) appears to have been a young Redshauk, 

 and from the description may have been an example of T. fuscus. Ac- 

 cording to Dr. Coues the Y^'ellowshank, or " Lesser Telltale," is common 

 east of the Rocky Mountains as a migrant, nesting in high latitudes in 

 Arctic America.] 



Greenshank. Totanus canescens (Gm.). 



A passing visitor, principally in autumn. Small flocks occasionally 

 visit our estuaries in August and September, and it is sometimes, but 

 rarely, observed in spring, and now and then in winter. It is by no 

 means a common species. 



At Plvinouth examples occurred iu 1821 (R. S.) ; September 1855 and May 10th, 1861 

 (B., MS. Notes) ; December 2(>th, 1862, October 1875, January 13th, 1S7'.», December 



1882, August 7tli, 1885 (J. G., MS. Notes, and Zool. 1875, p. 4719; 1879, p. 2061 ; 



1883, p. 166 ; 1885, p. 378). A few generally visit the mud-flats in autumn. 



On the Kingsbridge estuary the Greenshank is generally seen in small numbers 

 every autumn (E. A. S. E., MS. Notes). 



A pair were seen on the Teign, near Newton Abbot, September 27tb, 1871 (G. F. M., 

 Zool. 1872, p. 2945). 



On the Exe estuary specimens were obtained in September 1839, September 1844, 

 and September 1845 (F. W. L. R.). Two August 25th, 1851, May 6th, 1853, September 

 1867, September 1871, and September 1890. There are also several from the Exe in 

 Mr. Byne's collection. 



On the Taw a pair occurred September 5th, 1870, and a large flock August 30th, 

 1871 (M. S. C. R., Zool. 1870, p. 2387 ; 1871, p. 2809). One May 23rd, 1874 (G. F. M., 

 Zool. 1874, p. 4134). 



This fine Sandpiper nests by the lochs in the far north of Scotland, and 

 also in the northern parts of Europe, and is an autumn visitor of 

 irregular appearance on our Devonshire estuaries and rivers. We have 

 seen single examples on the Barnstaple river, always finding them very 

 wary and difficult to approach. The Rev. Marcus Rickards met with a 

 flock of from twenty to twenty-five running on the bank of the Taw close 

 to Barnstaple, in August and September 1871, and informs us that they 

 continued to frequent the same place for some time, and that he succeeded 

 in shooting two of them. He also saw a single Greenshank on the salt- 

 marsh at West Appledore. 



