THE REDSHANK. 
205 
often alight on the sea where it is deep ; but to the surprise 
of a shooter here^ on one occasion (November 20, 1847), tliree of 
them appeared swimming about and busily feeding on the surface 
of water about eight feet in depth. Prom their turning quickly 
about in all directions, he at first imagined they might be grey 
phalaropes, or some rare birds ; but on his approach, they gave 
forth the well-known cry of the redshank, and he saw, as they 
took wing, that they were of this species. A redshank, pursued 
by a hawk, here, was observed by two men fishing, to fly direct 
for the boat in which they were, as if for safety, and when within 
about two yards of them, it dived completely under water six or 
seven times, so often as the hawk made a stoop. At length, the 
bird betook itself to the air, and was probably captured, as the 
hawk was gaining on it when they both disappeared from the 
sight of the fishermen. 
What may seem timidity or fear on the part of the redshank, 
should rather be attributed to restlessness of disposition. It is 
in this respect on the shore what the blackbird is in the thicket. 
Its varied action on the ground is very pleasing, and the nodding 
of the head is often quite grotesque; indeed, at Eoundstone, 
Connemara, where the bird is numerous, it is commonly known 
by the name of s/iake,'^ on account of this habit. The restless- 
ness of the redshank is manifest even on the wing, for not more 
than a moment does a flock present the same appearance. It is 
now a round ball, next instant shoots out like a sky-rocket, 
appears in single file, and, after assuming every imaginable form, 
perhaps rolls itself into a ball again ; the whole being done with 
equal rapidity and grace, whether it rises high into the air, or 
sweeps the surface of the sea. 
Every month in the year the redshank may be seen about our 
shores, though in the breeding season not more than one will be 
met with for a hundred at other times. Little flocks, as well as 
single birds and pairs, occur on the coast in the height of summer. 
On the 1 3th of June, 1832, when visiting the Mew Island, 
* The late Mr. John Nimmo. 
