GREENSHANK. 15 



comes clown in a sloping direction, but sometimes with such 

 swiftness that it is obliged to throw its body to the right 

 and left in order to break its fall, and at last quite opens 

 its wings, in order to skim a yard or two before touching 

 the ground. The present species is the most careful and 

 shy of all its tribe, and, unless a sportsman can take it by 

 surprise, it cannot be approached within a hundred yards : 

 the best mode of getting a specimen is by placing a stuffed 

 Greenshank on a suitable spot, where a person can be hidden 

 within gunshot, as this species is sociable with its own, as 

 well as with other nearly allied species ; but the instant it 

 comes down it must be fired at, for fear of the deception 

 being discovered. The sociable nature of the Greenshanks also 

 shews itself in their generally flying about in small parties, 

 and calling the straggler stowards them whenever they meet : 

 they also fly in company with snipes and other species of 

 their own family, and will allow any of these to accompany 

 them durino' their migration. 



The call-note of the present species sounds like the word 

 tea-ah, tea-ah ! which it utters on the wing or on the ground 

 in quick succession, twice or thrice; and when several of them 

 answer one another, this forms a very melodious sound, owing 

 to its fulness of expression. 



In confinement the Greenshank becomes tame, and will 

 exist for some time, owing to its hardiness. 



This species chiefly breeds in high northern latitudes. 

 The nest is said to be placed on the ground in a hollow, like 

 that of the lapwing. The eggs are four in number, rather 

 larger than those of that species. 



The length of the Greenshank is nearly twelve inches, and 

 its summer plumage is as follows : — The top of the head, back 

 of the neck, back, and scapulars consist of dusky feathers 

 with paler edges ; the larger feathers of the scapulars and 

 tcrtials are black in the centre and regularly edged with 



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