TOTANIN^. 701 



plumage is greater ; it is kept by some Systematists under 

 Totanus as restricted. 



895. Totanus stagnatilis, Bechstein. 



% Blyth, Cat. 1579 — Limosa Horsfieldii, Sykes, Cat. 196 — 

 Jerdon, Cat. 350 — S. totanus, Linn. — T. Lathami, Gray, 

 Hardw., 111. Ind. Zool. pi.— Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 314 

 — Chota gotra, Beng. 



The Little Green-shanks. 



Descr. — Above pale ashy-brown, the nape streaked with dark- 

 brown, the top of the head and neck, and the scapulars edged 

 with whitish ; eyebrows and cheeks white, spotted with brown ; 

 greater wing-coverts pale ashy, edged whitish ; the lesser coverts 

 ashy-brown, with paler edges, and the stem black ; quills brown 

 black, the shafts white ; lower back white ; tail white, with brown 

 bands ; beneath pure white ; the sides of the neck, of the breast, 

 and the flanks spotted with brown. 



Bill dusky-green ; irides brown ; legs pale green. Length 10^ 

 inches ; wing 5^ ; tail 2 ; bill at front If ; tarsus 2£. 



In summer, the plumage becomes very dark above, mixed black, 

 rufous and ashy, and the lower parts are marked throughout with 

 small round black spots. 



This pretty little Sandpiper is less generally spread perhaps than 

 any of the preceding species, but is now and then met with in large 

 numbers. It frequents young rice fields, and open marshy spots, 

 but is also seen on the bare edges of tanks. I saw it in large 

 flocks on the banks of the Trichoor Lake in South Malabar, and 

 have obtained it occasionally in various parts of the country. It is 

 found generally throughout the Old World, extends as far as 

 Australia, and breeds, as usual, in the North. 



The two next species have red legs, a peculiar coloration, the 

 wings with much white, and the change of plumage very great. 

 They are more social than the other Totanince. They constitute 

 the Gen. Totanus as restricted of some, Gambetta and Erytkro- 

 scelis of Kaup. The first is very unnecessarily separated as 

 Err/throscelis, of which it is the only species. 



