298 ALLENS naturalist’s LIBRARV. 
and, when it gets beyond its depth, to swim with case, sitting 
gracefully on the water, and bowing its head, like a Phalarope"^ 
with every stroke of its feet. When wounded it has been 
known to dive for some distance.” 
Nest.— Our best information regarding the breeding of the 
Spotted Red-shank is derived from the researches of the late 
John Wolley, from whose account I make a short extract 
“ This bird not unfrequently lays its eggs in a part of the forest 
which has formerly been burnt ; and here is one of its most 
unexpected singularities — a marsh bird choosing the dryest 
possible situation, even hills of considerable height, and 
covered with forest timber. I have myself seen two nests so 
placed, and one of them at least was on ground which, from 
the charred wood lying about, had evidently been burnt at 
some former period. They were nearl}- at the top of long hills, 
many hundreds of yards from any marshy places, with good- 
sized fir-trees on all sides ; but they were not in the thickest 
part of the forest, and the vegetation on the ground about was 
very scanty', diminutive heather and such-like plants growing 
thinly amongst short rein-deer lichen, slight depressions in the 
ground, placed near some little ancient logs, so nearly buried, 
however, as to afford no shelter ; the bedding only a few dry 
leaves of the Scotch fir. The bird sits sometimes so close that 
one is tempted to try and reach it with the hand. Its white 
back is conspicuous as it crouches with its neck drawn in ; it 
either gets up direct, or runs a short way before it rises, and 
then it flics round, with an occasional ‘ ijcivty,’ or stands upon 
the top of a neighbouring tree, showing the full length of its 
slender legs, neck, and bill. But it is not until it has young 
that all its powers of eloquence are fully brought into play ; it 
then comes far to meet any intruder, floating over him with a 
clear cry that echoes through the forest, or is heard over a great 
extent of marsh; or it stands very near one, bowing its head 
and opening its beak in the energy of its gesticulation.” 
Eggs. — Four in number, of a rich green ground-colour, when 
fresh, according to Wolley ; or sometimes of a bright brown, 
with reddish-brown blotches and scribblings, which are con- 
gregated principally at the larger end, while in some they are 
almost equally distributed over the entire surface. Axis, 175- 
i' 85; diam., i‘2-i'3. 
