'C O M M O N R E D S H A N K .
Totanus calidris (Linn.).
COMMON REDSHANK.
TOTANUS CALIDRIS {Linn.).
Tringa calidris, Linn. S. N. i. p. 252 (1766).
Totanus calidris, Naum. viii. p. 95; Macg. iv. p. 333; Hewit-
son, ii. p. 329; Yarr. ed. 4, iii. p. 469; Dresser, viii.
p. 157.
Chevalier-Gambette, French; Rothfussiger Wasserldufer,
Gambette, German; Gamba roja, Pajarillo, Spanish,
Archibebe (Malaga).
This pretty bird is probably only too well known to
those of my readers who are given to Snipe-shooting,
from its frequency on their favourite grounds, and, from
a sportsman’s point of view, its detestable habit of
flying screaming over the marshes, thereby putting all
the Snipes upon the “ qui-vive.” Admitting this
charge against our bird, it is withal a very great
ornament to many of our native districts, which, without
bird-life, would be dreary indeed; and as it is perfectly
harmless, worthless from a culinary point of view, and
one of the many of our British species that must by
degrees become extinct as a resident, from the draining
and reclamation of its present breeding-localities, 1 say
by all means spare the Redshank. In the spring and
summer this species is to be found in suitable localities