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and, indeed, is only met with on the sea-shore during passage, and then but seldom. Inland 

 sheets of water, especially where the shores are a little muddy or swampy, morasses where there 

 are little open patches of water, and flat banks of streams and rivers are its favourite haunts at 

 all seasons, except that, unlike almost any other Wader, it chooses very dry localities in forest- 

 districts for the purposes of nidification. It usually during passage visits places where there are 

 neither bushes nor reeds on the shore, but where it is open and the ground is soft and muddy ; 

 and it is especially fond of places where the water is shallow and it can wade about in search of 

 insects &c. Not only does it, however, wade often, but it swims with almost as much ease as a 

 Phalarope, evidently from choice when the water is rather too deep for it to wade, and not only 

 when compelled to take to the water. Naumann says that he has seen one drop on to the water 

 when on the wing and paddle quietly to the shore. It swims very lightly, like a Gull, very 

 little of the body being in the water, and, when frightened by a passing Hawk, will not only take 

 to the water, but dive several times in succession and come up at some distance from the place 

 where it plunges under the surface. It is an exceedingly shy and wary bird, and I know well 

 from experience how difficult it is to approach within gunshot of it. When migrating in the 

 autumn they often collect in small flocks or companies, but, comparatively speaking, seldom join 

 other species. Its call-note is loud and very clear, resembling the syllables too-it or tschoo-it 

 uttered rather quickly, and generally singly, some considerable interval elapsing before the 

 syllables are again uttered — except when suddenly alarmed, when it will use the note twice in 

 succession, rather hurriedly, as expressive of fear. It is frequently used when a small flock is 

 scattered about, to call up a straggler. Naumann says that he has also heard it utter a low note, 

 tick, tick, tack, as a sort of welcome, when one drops down from the wing to join others which 

 are on the ground. It is said to be a quiet and comparatively easily tamed bird, and to thrive 

 well in confinement ; but from personal observation I know nothing on this point, never having 

 kept one. ■ It feeds on small crustaceans, worms, and all sorts of water-insects, the nature of its 

 food depending somewhat on the locality where it has taken up its abode. 



It is only, comparatively speaking, quite lately that any thing definite has been known 

 respecting its nidification. None of the Scandinavian authors published any reliable information 

 relative to its breeding-habits and eggs ; and even Degland and Gerbe, as late as 1867, write only 

 that " elle se reproduit dans les regions du cercle arctique. Les ceufs nous sont inconnus." 

 The first reliable information appears to be that obtained by the well-known naturalist the late 

 Mr. John Wolley, and by him communicated to Mr. Hewitson, who published it in the last 

 edition of his well-known work. 



I am indebted to Professor Newton for the loan of a letter, addressed to Mr. Hewitson, under 

 date 17th October, 1854, by Mr. Wolley, who, without taking any credit to himself for being, 

 as he certainly was, the first ornithologist to discover the eggs of this Wader, modestly announces 

 his discovery as follows : — " I expect that henceforth the Spotted Redshank will always start up 

 in my memory at the first mention of Lapland. It is so peculiar to the country, so remarkable 

 in its appearance in summer, and so often calling attention to itself by its striking actions — 

 whilst my ignorance of its nest and eggs for a whole year after my arrival in the far north kept 

 up in me during that time the liveliest interest concerning it. A bird with so much character 

 was easy to talk about. I soon found that it was known amongst the people by several names, 



