The Tattlers. 
i? 7 
THE 
RED-BREASTED 
SNIPE-TATTLER. 
( Macrorhamphus 
griseus.) 
The Red-breasted Snipe-Tattler. 
THE SPOTTED 
REDSHANK. 
( Totanus fuscus.) 
This is 
essentially a 
G o d w i t in 
plumage, but 
has a different 
bill, somewhat 
widened out at the tip and pitted. 
The female has a slightly longer 
bill than the male. In winter the 
plumage is grey, with the under- 
parts white, the throat streaked, 
and the chest and sides of the 
body barred with blackish. It is 
a North-American species, which 
has occurred more than a dozen times in England, and twice in Ireland. 
Distinguished in summer by its sooty-black under-surface ; 
and in the winter plumage, which resembles that of the other 
Tattlers, the Spotted Redshank may always be recognised by its 
white rump, and by its barred secondaries. It does not nest in the 
British Islands, but is only a visitor on migration. Its breeding range extends 
through Northern Europe and Northern Asia, and it migrates south in the autumn 
to India, Burma and China, as well as Southern Europe. It frequents inland 
marshes during the breeding season, and the shores of lakes, and it nests on hill-sides, 
often away from water. The nests are depressions in the ground with a few dry 
leaves. The eggs are of a rich green colour, when fresh, but fade to a light brown, 
with reddish-brown blotches and scribblings, generally collected near the larger end.. 
They measure about an inch-and-three- 
quarters in length. 
The Common Red- 
shank is recognised by 
its white rump and 
white inner second- 
aries ; it has also orange legs like the 
Spotted Redshank. The stripes on the 
breast are more distinct in summer than 
in winter, and the upper surface is blotched 
with black. It breeds in marshy places 
throughout England, Ireland and Scot- 
land, and is found in localities suited to 
its habits throughout Europe and Central 
The Spotted Redshank. Asia as tar as Mongolia. In winter it 
THE COMMON 
REDSHANK. 
( Totanus calidvis.) 
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