202 
SCOLOPACID^. 
European continent, the spotted redshank annually migrates to 
the far north — within the arctic circle — to breed. It does not 
seem to be met with anywhere in abundance, like the common 
species, Totanus calidris. I have seen one which was killed in the 
neighbourhood of Eome. 
' THE EEDSHANK. 
Totanus calidris, Linn, (sp.) 
Scolopax „ „ 
Is common around the coast : a small proportion only of 
those seen during autumn and winter breed in the 
island. 
This bird appears to be much more numerous around the shores 
of Ireland than those of Great Britain, judging from the state- 
ments of authors in the latter island respecting it. Bewick 
remarks : — “ This species is of a solitary character, being mostly 
seen alone or in pairs only — Montagu, that it is not an un- 
common bird upon many of our shores in winter — Eleming, 
that it leads a sohtary life on the sea-shore during winter — 
Selby, that during the winter the redshank is found upon the 
sea-coast, and about the mouths of rivers, in small flocks — and 
Yarrell, that a few redshanks are sometimes met with during the 
; winter season, but the most of them migrate.’’^ 
Even in the north of Ireland they are very numerous during 
winter, in all kinds of weather, though autumn is the season of 
their greatest profusion. Oozy shores, such as are covered by 
the Zostera marina, seem to be preferred, which may possibly be 
at least one reason of the great abundance of redshanks on the 
Irish coast, where there are so many bays of this description. 
But they are by no means limited to such localities. There is 
British Animals, p. 103. 
