GREENSHANK. 



Totanus glottis, Bechst. 

 Le Chevalier aboyeur. 



We are not inclined to consider the upward curvature which the mandibles of this bird exhibit of sufficient 

 importance to warrant its separation from the genus Totanus, answering as the rest of its characters do to 

 those upon which that genus was established ; for, like most of the species, it undergoes a slight periodical 

 change in the colouring of its plumage, the summer livery, which is varied with markings of dark grey, 

 particularly on the chest and flanks, giving place in autumn and winter to a uniform tint of white over the 

 whole of the under surface. It is in this latter stage that the bird is represented on our Plate. In its habits 

 and manners also, as well as in the circumstance of the sexes not being distinguished by the colouring 

 of their plumage, it is strongly allied to the two species of Redshank, which may be considered as typical 

 examples. 



From the circumstance of the Greenshank having been lately added to the Fauna of America by that justly 

 celebrated ornithologist M. Audubon, it may be considered to possess a range scarcely equalled in extent by 

 any of the Sandpipers, as it is generally spread over the whole of India and Africa, nor is it less numerously 

 diffused over the countries of Europe. Although it does not make the British Islands either a place of 

 permanent residence or of incubation, still it is sufficiently numerous during its vernal and autumnal migra- 

 tions to be considered as strictly within the list of British species. In England it frequents the shores of the 

 sea and the mouths of the larger rivers : on the Continent, during the winter, it is common on the coast of 

 Holland, but less so on that of France ; it also occurs on the lakes of Switzerland and Germany, as well as 

 on the banks of the Rhine and other large rivers. 



Its breeding-place must in all probability be looked for in the high northern latitudes, which form a place 

 of summer residence to so many other members of the family. 



Its food consists of aquatic worms, insects, mollusca, and the small fry of fishes. 



Top of the head and sides of the neck dull white, streaked with dusky brown ; face, sides of the head, 

 throat, front of the neck, and all the under surface pure white ; flanks streaked and rayed transversely with 

 light brown ; upper part of the back, wing-coverts, tertials, and scapulars deep brown, tinged with purple ; 

 each feather margined with greyish white, and dotted with brown of a deeper tint ; quills brownish black ; 

 the shafts of the first being white ; lower part of the back and rump white ; tail white irregularly barred with 

 brown ; bill brownish black ; legs and feet greenish grey. 



The figure is of the natural size. 



