136 BRILISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
Famiry SCOLOPACIDA. 
COMMON REDSHANK. 
ToTANUS CALIDRIS, Linn. 
Pl. XX., fig. 7. 
Geogr. distr.—Europe generally; Asia as far as S.E. Siberia and 
China ; in the winter it is found in Africa as far south as the Cape: in 
Great Britain it is resident, being most common in Scotland. 
Food.—Insects, Crustacea, Mollusca, and worms. 
Nest.—A mere depression in the ground, or a hollow trodden down 
in the centre of a tuft of grass, lined with a few dry grasses, straws, or 
fragments of moss, heather, or reed. 
Position of nest.—On wet heathy moors or marshy wastes, some- 
times under a tall weed or heather bush. 
Number of eggs.—4. 
Time of nidvfication.—IV-V. 
This bird is by no means uncommon in England, even in 
the summer months, though much less so than formerly, 
owing to the draining of many marshes and reclaiming of 
damp wastes, upon which it used to abound. Though 
pretty generally distributed wherever the country is suit- 
able, it has now become, of necessity, somewhat local; in 
Scotland and the islands to the west and north of that 
country it is abundant. 
During the nesting season the Redshank is sociable, 
many nests being prepared within a small area of ground. 
When disturbed from the nest the birds are said to be 
very clamorous, flying round the intruder, and making an 
incessant, shrill, piping note. Like other species of a 
similar nature, the number of eggs in each nest is in- 
variably four, and those constantly placed with their 
smaller ends in the centre—(Newman, in Montagu’s 
Dict. of Brit. Birds, p. 269.) 
As Hewitson observes, the eggs are ‘“‘ much like those of 
the Peewit in size and general appearance ;” they are, 
however, paler, less richly coloured, have, as a rule, smaller 
markings, and are more pointed at the small end. 
Only one brood is reared in a season. 
