GREENSHANK .
Totanus glottis, Bechst.
Le Chevalier aboyeur.
We are not inclined to consider tbe upward curvature which the mandibles o f this bird exhibit o f sufficient
importance to warrant its separation from the genus Totarrn, answering as the rest o f its characters do to
those upon which that genus was established; for, like most o f the species, it undergoes a slight periodical
change in the colouring o f its plumage, the summer livery, which is varied with markings o f dark grey
particularly on the chest and Hanks, giving place in autumn and winter to a uniform tint o f white over the
whole o f the under surface. It is in this latter stage that the bird is represented on our Plate. In its habits
and manners also, as well as in the circumstance o f the sexes not being distinguished by the colouring
o f their plumage, it ,s. strongly allied to the two species o f ' Redshank, which may be considered as typical
examples.
From the circumstance o f the Greenshank having been lately added to the Fauna o f America by that justly
celebrated ornithologist M. Audubon, it may be considered to possess a range scarcely equalled in extent by
any o f the Sandpipers, as it is generally spread over the whole o f India and Africa, nor is it less numerously
diffused over the countries o f Europe. Although it does not make the British Islands either a place of
permanent residence or o f incubation, still it is sufficiently numerous during its vernal and . . l — l migra-
turn, to be considered as strictly within the list o f British species. In England it frequents the shores o f the
sea and the mouths o f the larger rivers: on the Continent, during the winter, it is common on the coast of
olland, but less so on that o f France; it also occurs on the lakes o f Switzerland and Germany, as well as
on the banks o f the Rhine and other large rivers.
Its breeding-place must in all probability be looked for in the high northern latitudes, which form a place
ot summer residence to so many other members o f the family.
Its food consists o f aquatic worms, insects, mollusca, and the small fry o f fishes.
Top o f the head and sides o f the neck dull white, streaked with dusky brown; face, sides o f the head,
throat, front o f the neck, and all the under surface pure white; flanks streaked and rayed transversely with
light brown; upper part o f the back, wing-coverts, tertials, and scapulars deep brown, tinged with purple;
each feather margined with greyish white, and dotted with brown o f a deeper tint; quills brownish black;
the shafts o f the first being white; lower part o f the back and rump white; tail white irregularly barred with
brown; bill brownish black; legs and feet greenish grey.
The figure is o f the natural size.