208 SCOLOPACID.E. 



ORALLA TORUS. SCOLOPACID.E. 



PLATE CLXXIX. 



REDSHANK. 



TOTANUS CALIDRIS. 



The Redshank is indigenous in Britain, frequenting the 

 soft muddy flats on the sea-coast in autumn and winter, 

 and the banks of rivers, lakes, marshes, and ponds during the 

 breeding-season : it is of no uncommon occurrence in the 

 localities that suit its habits, and is consequently very local. 



The distribution of the present species extends over the 

 greater part of the known world : in Europe it is met Avith in 

 Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, in all the islands of the 

 North Sea and the Baltic, and very frequently in Holland 

 and the northern parts of Germany ; it is not rare in appro- 

 priate places of central and southern Germany, and also of 

 Hungary, and during the winter season is plentiful in Italy, 

 Greece, and Spain. In Asia, Africa, and North America 

 it is equally well known and plentiful. 



As a migratory bird, the Redshank travels northward, on 

 the Continent, in the months of March and April, for the pur- 

 pose of breeding. The old birds, which are said to breed in 

 the most northern countries before named, are those that pass 

 through last ; and the younger, which take up their abode in 

 the more temperate regions, arrive first. How beautiful this 

 provision of nature, to save the younger birds the fatigue of a 

 lengthened journey ! We may suppose, therefore, that birds 

 in the intermediate ages are found breeding in intermediate 



