217 
THE GEEENSHANK. 
Totanus glottis, Linn, (sp.) 
Scolopax „ „ 
Is a regular autumnal migrant, and of occasional oc- 
currence in winter. 
This species is not quite so rare in Ireland as it would seem to be 
in Great Britain ; where, as remarked by Mr. Selby, it is a scarce 
bird, generally only to be met with about the period of its 
vernal and autumnal migrations. It is noticed by Sir Wm. 
Jardine as straggling visitor.^M Though of regular annual 
appearance in the north of Ireland, it comes in extremely limited 
numbers, and is one of the earliest species in arrival after the 
breeding season ; — a fact to which our attention is directed by 
its peculiar cry. About the middle of July, it has always 
appeared in Belfast Bay ; the earliest noted by me were seen on 
the 2nd of that month (1846), and on the 29th of June (1848). 
The specimen obtained at the latter date came under my notice 
just after being killed; it was beautifully and conspicuously 
spotted on the neck and breast with black, having a bronzed 
lustre ; the spots becoming gradually larger downwards, towards 
the body. On the back and scapulars were dark bronze-coloured 
feathers, looking very handsome among those of the ordinary 
light-coloured brown. Like our other Grallatores, this bird 
is chiefly here in the month of September. Its very limited 
numbers— generally three or four in a flock — vary little ; during 
some years, however, (in 1822 or 1823, in 1835 and in 1843,) 
more than usual appeared. On the 14th of September, 1835, 
a bird-preserver had received six of them ; being more than he 
had obtained in any previous autumn. They are extremely 
wary. I have known, in one season, three of them to be fre- 
quently seen and pursued by fowlers for six or seven weeks, by 
* Vol. ii. p. 87. 
t Brit. Birds, vol, iii. p. 205. 
