nowhere very abundant, and in England and Ireland is 

 best known as an autumnal visitor to the coasts and 

 inland waters; Mr. H. Saunders informs ns that it 

 remains in Ireland throughout the winter. 'J'he nest is 

 said to be often placed close to large grey granite 

 stones, to which the upper plumage of the Greenshank 

 closely assimilates in general tone of colour ; the eggs 

 arc four in number, very large for the size of the bird, 

 and are generally hatched during the first fortnight of 

 June J both parent-birds are very clamorous, and bold 

 in attacking a dog, and sweeping round the head of a 

 human intruder after their young are hatched. I have 

 met with this bird once or twice on the Tweed in early 

 autumn, and occasionally on the Irish coasts at the 

 same season, also on various parts of the Mediterranean 

 shores, but my principal acquaintance with it was 

 formed on the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir, where, 

 though by no means very abundant, it is frequently to 

 be met with in pairs or small parties during April and 

 the early part of May. It is generally, in my experi- 

 ence, a very wary bird, rising at the slightest suspicion 

 of danger, and uttering a very remarkable shrill double 

 note, by which it may easily be identified from any of 

 its congeners with whom 1 have any acquaintance. I 

 do not remember ever to have found Greenshanks 

 associating with any other birds, except a stray Avocet 

 or two. 



