88 
COMMON GREENSHANK. 
The Cinereous Godwit of Pennant scarcely appears 
to differ from the young of the above. Temminck 
observes, that at the commencement of the moult in 
the spring he has killed specimens which have not 
the deep black on the back, from which he presumes 
that the winter plumage is of a reddish-ash ; and that 
all the feathers on the upper parts of the back are dusky 
near the shafts, and spotted with brown and white. 
This species is not numerous in England, but it is 
sometimes observed in small flocks on the coasts in 
winter, and also in the adjacent marshes and fens : 
its summer residence is in the northern parts of Eu- 
rope, where they are said to be in great plenty, and 
to breed. Montagu received an egg which, it was 
asserted, belonged to this bird it was rather less 
than that of a lapwing, and not very unlike it in 
shape and colour, being of an olive-brown, covered 
with dusky spots all over, but smaller than those of 
the above-mentioned bird. It lives upon small fishes, 
mollusca, and aquatic insects : its flesh is much 
esteemed. 
