The Tattlers. 
1 8 1 
THE 
GREENSHANK. 
( Glottis nebularius.) 
The Greenshank. 
resembles our Summer-Snipe from 
which it differs in its spotted under- 
parts in summer. 
This is the 
largest of the 
group of Tat- 
tlers, and has 
a slightly upturned bill, while there 
is scarcely any web between the 
base of the inner and middle toes. 
The plumage of the Greenshank 
is ashy-grey with whitish edges 
to the feathers ; the lower back, 
rump and upper tail-coverts are 
pure white, as also are the tail-feathers, which have broken bars of black ; the 
under surface of the body is pure white, with some dusky freckhngs on the side of 
the breast, and some streaks on the sides of the neck. Young birds are tinged with 
brown on the upper surface and have distinct bars across the tail. The Greenshank 
is chiefly known as a migrant on our coasts, but a few stay through the winter. It 
breeds in the north of Scotland and on the islands of the west of Scotland. It also 
nests throughout Northern Europe and Siberia, and migrates in winter to Africa, 
India and Australia. It is a shy bird at all times of the year, and makes a slight 
nest of grass or dead leaves in a depression of the ground. The eggs are four 
in number, pear-shaped, and of a creamy-buff colour, with spots and blotches of 
blackish-chestnut and grey; they measure an inch-and-three-quarters to a little 
over two inches in length. 
In this species the bill is very short, and the legs rather 
long ; the centre tail-feathers are not produced beyond the 
others, as in most of the Tattlers. It has also a peculiarly spotted 
plumage. It is believed to have nested in Great Britain in 
former days, but is now only known as a visitor, occurring every 
autumn on our eastern coasts, but being much rarer on the west and 
in Ireland. Its breeding-range extends throughout Northern Europe and Siberia, 
and it visits Africa, India, and the Malayan Archipelago on its winter migration. 
The Wood-Tattler makes its nest in the neighbourhood of swamps, but often 
on the open grass-land surrounded by trees, on which the bird often perches. 
Mr. H. L. Popham has found it utilising the old nests of the Fieldfare in the Yenesei 
Valley, but its nestis generally a slight depression in the ground, lined with a few stalks 
and dry grass. The eggs are four in number, olive-grey or stone-colour, handsomely 
spotted and blotched with blackish or reddish-brown and purplish-grey ; they 
measure about an inch-and-a-quarter to an inch-and-a-half in length. 
THE WOOD- 
TATTLER. 
( Rhyacophilus 
glareola.) 
See p. 179. 
