406 The Water-fowl Family 



Downy young — Above, black and gray, tinged with reddish; fore- 

 head, sides of head and entire under parts, white ; line through 

 eye, on forehead, and spot on crown, black. 



Measurements — Length, 14.50 inches; culmen, 2.25 inches; wing, 

 7.50 inches; tarsus, 2.25 inches. 



Eggs — Four; pale yellowish green, spotted with dark brown and 

 pale gray; measure 1.90 by 1.35 inches. 



Habitat — Breeds in Scotland, northern Europe, and northern 

 Siberia. Winters on the coasts of the Mediterranean, through- 

 out Africa to Cape Colony, in India, the Malay Archipelago, 

 Australia, China, and Japan. In migration, ranges through- 

 out the eastern hemisphere, from the Canary Islands to Norfolk 

 Island and the Commander Islands, and has been recorded from 

 Chili, Argentina, and Florida. 



The only reason for including this bird in the 

 North American list is the single instance of its 

 capture by Audubon, on Sand Key, near Cape 

 Sable, Florida. Here three specimens were taken, 

 May 28, 1832. They were all males, and were 

 mistaken at the time for yellowlegs. 



This species has many of the habits of the 

 greater yellowlegs, moving the head in the same 

 manner when suspicious of danger, but seldom 

 occurring in such large flocks. In the winter, in 

 Egypt, single birds are occasionally seen standing 

 on the banks of the Nile, or in small pools left 

 on the sand-flats by the retreating waters, and 

 even feeding quietly at the water's edge, amidst 

 the roar of the First Cataract. They seem to 

 have little fear of danger, and are easily ap- 

 proached. In the breeding season the green- 

 shank prefers woodland lakes and streams, laying 



