228 snipe. 



the neck marked with short, dusky streaks; under parts from the 

 breast, and lower part of the back and rump white, marked with 

 minute dusky specks; tail coverts and tail crossed with numerous 

 bars of black, twelve or thirteen on each feather; legs orange ; in 

 some birds both rump and belly are pure white. 



The Redshank is not uncommon in this kingdom, being fre- 

 quently met with on the shores in winter, and many breed in the 

 marshes : the eggs generally four, whitish, tinged with olive, and 

 marked with irregular black spots, chiefly at the larger end. When 

 disturbed, has the actions of a Lapwing, flying round in circles, the 

 nest being in the centre, be the circuit larger or smaller; so that an 

 attentive observer will often detect it by this circumstance. Is called 

 by some the Sandcock. 



It is common also in many parts of Europe, as high as Finmark, 

 found also in Siberia. To the south we trace it as far as Gibraltar, 

 and Barbary, about which, and in Andalusia, in Spain, it is at all 

 seasons, but most numerous in autumn and winter, when it feeds on 

 the sand shrimps.* The Rev. Mr. White, who mentioned this, 

 observed, that in all which he had seen, the back was pure white, 

 unspotted ; belly streaked like the breast; but the wing being dosed, 

 the white back is completely covered and hid. 



It inhabits also India, and there called Choopka.f — Few birds 

 vary, in respect to the summer and winter dress, more than this. In 

 the latter season it is sometimes so lean as to weigh qjjly four ounces, 

 and the plumage, although not much differing from the usual colour, 

 is paler, and the white spots, generally seen on the upper parts, 

 are scarcely visible, except on minute inspection : the wing coverts 

 nearly approaching to white ; bill and legs much as usual ; the chin, 

 middle of the belly, and back, white, and the tail barred, as in the 

 summer dress. In this state of feather it has been taken for the 

 Cambridge Godwit, and forwarded to me as such. The young also 

 have the markings of the plumage much less defined than the adult. 



* Cancer Pulex. — Lin. f India Drawings. 



