148 WADING BIRD5. 



streaks. — In the young of the year the cinereous tint prevails abovej. 

 with a tint of hair-brown on the summit of the head, back and scap- 

 ulars ; the spots ill defined, and wanting about the head, neck and 

 breast ; the two latter cinereous, very pale on the sides of the neck. 

 Rump ash ; tail coverts white. Scapulars and tertials edged with 

 brownish-white indented spots, with indications of dusky-browii 

 bars. Belowj except the lower part of the neck, wholly white 



Subgenus. — Totanus. 

 Bill slender, hard, furrowed nearly to the middle. Inner toe cleft. 



TELL-TALE, or GREATER YELLOW-SHANKS. 



(Totanus vociferus, Sabine. T. melanolencus, Vieill. Bonap. Syn. 

 No. 260. Scolopax vociferus, Wilson, vii. p. 57. pi. 58. fig. 5. 

 [summer dress.] Spotted Snipe, Pennant, Arct. Zool. ii. p. 467. No. 

 374. Phil. Museum, No. 3940.) 



Sp. Charact. — Blackish-brown, spotted with black and white ; 

 rump partly white ; tail dusky white, barred with brown ; legs and 

 feet yellow ; bill black, slightly recurved ; tarsus about the length 

 of the bill. Length of the individual about 14 inches. 



The Greater Yellow-Shanks or Tell-Tale, so remarkable 

 for its noise and vigilance, arrives on the coast of the Mid- 

 dle States, early in April, and proceeding principally by an 

 inland route, is seen in abundance as far north as the plains 

 of the Saskatchewan ; where, no doubt,^ in those desolate 

 and secluded marshes, far from the prying eye and persecu- 

 ting hand of man, the principal part of the species, pass 

 the period of reproduction, reappearing in the cooler parts 

 of the Union towards the close of August ; yet so extensive 

 is the breeding range of the Tell-Tale, that many continue 

 to occupy the marshes of the Middle States, until the ap- 



