The Spotted Redshank 



mottled with white; under parts white. The young 

 differ from the autumn plumage of the adults in having 

 the chin white and the rest of the under parts thickly- 

 barred with ash brown. Length 13 in. ; wing 6*6 in. 

 This species lacks the white wing bar. 



GREENSHANK 



Totanus canescens (J. F. Gmelin) 



In a few places in Scotland where large tracts of pine 

 forest exist some small boggy swamps varying in size from two 

 or three acres to perhaps half an acre, may be found situated 

 in the midst of the woods. These swamps form the summer 

 home of the few Greenshanks that nest with us. The eggs 

 are placed on a tussock in the centre of one of these bogs, 

 so that to reach them is by no means an easy matter, and 

 so cunning are these birds that they are seldom seen feeding 

 on the swamp where they nest, but prefer to dine elsewhere. 

 The eggs are generally of a light stone colour, boldly blotched 

 and marked with darker brown. As soon as the young 

 are hatched the parents remain in constant attendance, and 

 should any one disturb the peace of their solitude, fly round, 

 calling out incessantly. Amid such surroundings, therefore, 

 be it in Scotland, Sweden, Finland, or elsewhere, the Green- 

 shank is born, but as soon as he is able to fly at about five 

 weeks old he departs with his parents for the nearest sea- 

 shore where the mud-flats exposed at each tide afford him 

 abundant nourishment. He is a wild and restless bird, and 



343 



