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mostly pass northward during March and April, returning to remain for the winter in September 

 and October. Some, however, remain in the country for the breeding-season." It has been 

 obtained by Pel in Ashantee; and Mr. Ussher writes (Ibis, 1874, p. 74) that it is tolerably 

 common on the Gold Coast and at the mouths of the rivers in Western Africa. Mr. Harting 

 has received it from Walwich Bay; and Mr. E. L. Layard writes (B. of S. Afr. p. 325) that it is 

 " found sparingly about the Knysna estuary, and the mouth of the Salt River, near Capetown, in 

 both of which places I have shot them. I also detected them among some birds shot by Messrs. 

 Chapman on Lake Ngami. At Zoetendals Vley they were abundant in November." It has also 

 been recorded from the Canaries by Dr. C. Bolle, who states (J. f. O. 1857, p. 337) that a spe- 

 cimen is in the Leon collection which was obtained there ; but Mr. Godman did not meet with 

 it in the Azores. 



To the eastward the common Redshank is found as far as China. De Filippi observed it 

 in July near Sultanieh ; and Mr. Blanford says that it is occasionally seen in Baluchistan in 

 winter, and he thinks that it probably breeds on the Persian highlands, at the Lake of Shiraz, 

 and other places. Severtzoff states that it is common in Turkestan during passage, and breeds, 

 though rarely, in the north-eastern portion of that country. Dr. Jerdon speaks of it as being 

 common throughout the greater part of India in the cold season, and often seen in large 

 flocks. Mr. A. O. Hume observed it in Kurrachee Harbour. Mr. Layard states that it is 

 common in Ceylon ; but Mr. Holdsworth did not observe it when there. It certainly, however, 

 is found on the Andaman Islands; for Lord Walden records it (Ibis, 1874, p. 174) from Port 

 Blair, in the South Andamans. Von Pelzeln states that is found in the Nicobars ; and Mr. A. O. 

 Hume writes (Stray Feathers, ii. p. 299) that he noticed it at Macpherson's Straits. Pere David 

 states that it occurs in Mongolia on passage ; and Mr. Swinhoe records it as found generally 

 throughout China during the winter season. Dr. Radde met with it in South-eastern Siberia, and 

 writes (Reis. im Sud. von Ost-Sib. ii. p. 328) that numbers appeared at the Tarei-nor on the 1st of 

 May (old style), and remained there to breed; about the 29th July they were collected in flocks 

 in the mountains near Altansk, and were very shy ; and in the first half of August they began 

 to leave, none being seen at the Tarei-nor after the first of September. Middendorff observed it 

 on the elevated portions of the large Schantar Island on the 9th of August, and shot specimens 

 on the 27th August further inland from the south coast of the Sea of Ochotsk, at Ujakon. It 

 does not occur in America. 



Except during the summer season (as in some countries the Redshank breeds in the 

 interior), it is most generally met with on the coast, especially in places where there are large 

 mud flats, and on the muddy shores of the river-mouths, or in pools left by the tide. Exceed- 

 ingly active, it runs with the greatest ease, and when picking up food on a beach when the surf 

 is breaking will dodge the waves with apparent ease, running with surprising swiftness. On the 

 wing it is equally agile, flies swiftly, but with a somewhat undecided wavering flight, often 

 uttering its shrill cry. It is exceedingly shy and cautious, and it is most difficult to approach 

 within gunshot of it. When alarmed it runs off, every now and then stopping for a moment, 

 utters its loud cry and vibrates its body, then, suddenly springing up, flies off calling loudly, and 

 soon alarms any other birds that may be in the vicinity. It feeds on worms, small insects of 

 various kinds, mollusca, and small crustaceans, which it picks up on the shore or amongst the 



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