I3i: 
KEDSHANKS AND TATTLERS. 
south-eastern portions of Europe, whence it migrates into 
Germany, France, and Italy. It feeds on worms and insects, 
and, according to Temminck, nestles on a small eminence 
formed in the marshes, laying four eggs of the size and form 
of those of the Avocet, dull greenish marked with numerous 
grey spots, and dotted with middle sized and very small 
spots of a reddish brown. The whole length of the bird 
itself is about fourteen inches. 
The Greenshank is little larger in the body, generally 
measuring about fifteen inches ; it is altogether a better 
proportioned bird, but its plumage throughout is more 
imiibrm and sober, being chiefly grey, brown, and black ; it 
Avants the green gloss on the wings, and the roseate tinge 
on the breast, as well as the bright red legs of the gentle- 
man on stilts, than whom it is seen more frequently in this 
country, although it is by no means a common species here. 
During the winter small flocks may sometimes be seen, 
here and there along the sea shore, and river margins in the 
north of England, and south of Scotland. In the summer 
it retires farther northward, and generally leaves Britain in 
October. It associates in autumn with the Eedshank, 
which it resembles in its habits. Macgillivray describes 
the hen as extremely shy and vigilant, inasmuch that one can 
seldom shoot her until after she has deposited her eggs. 
She is easily discovered, for when perhaps more than a 
quarter of a mile distant, she rises into the air with clamor- 
ous cries, alarming all the birds in the neighbourhood, flies 
round the place of her nest, now wheeling off to a distance, 
again advancing, and at intervals alighting by the edge of 
the lake, when she continues her cries, vibrating her body 
all the while. 
The Dusky Redshank Tattler {Totanus fascus). — The 
Spotted Snipe, or Redshank ; the Red-legged, or Cambridge 
Godwit ; the Dusky Sandpiper, Snipe, or Redshank. 
The Common Redshank Tattler {Totanus calidns). 
The Redshank, Sandcock, Red-legged, or Fool Snipe. 
The Green Tattler {Totanus ochivpus). — Sometimes 
called the Green Sandpiper. 
The Wood Tattler {Totanus glareola), — Sometimes 
called the Wood Sandpiper. 
