^ELL-TALE, OR GREATER YELLOW-SHANKS. 149 



proach of cold weather, in the month of November, breed- 

 ing in their favorite resorts, on the borders of bogs, secur- 

 ing the nest in a tuft of rank grass or sedge, and laying 4 

 eggs, of a dingy white, irregularly marked with spots of 

 dark brown or black, and which, according to Mr. Hutch- 

 ins, are large for the size of the bird, and of similar mark- 

 ings in their northern breeding places. In Massachusetts, 

 as with many other birds, the present is so uncommon a spe- 

 cies, that it may be considered almost as a straggler, arriving 

 in autumn, with the few flocks, who touch at the coast of 

 Labrador and Newfoundland, confining their visits, with 

 Curlews, Godwits, and many other wading birds, chiefly to 

 the eastern extremity of Cape Cod and Cape Ann, where mul- 

 titudes of these birds transiently assemble, in spring and au- 

 tumn, (particularly in the vicinity of Chatham and Ipswich) 

 and of which but k\v penetrate inland, their next visit being 

 usually to the shores of Long Island in their further progress 

 to the south. In the spring, however, avoiding the long 

 continued eastwardly storms of this climate, they are led 

 to go inland by a more favorable route ; and have been seen 

 at this season, by Mr. Say, on the banks of the Missouri, on 

 their way to the interior of the continent. 



The vociferous vigilance of the Tell-Tale, has justly 

 stigmatized him with the present name, for no sooner does 

 the gunner appear, than his loud, and shrill whistle of about 

 four rapidly repeated notes, is instantly heard, as he mounts 

 on wing, and proves generally so good a warning to all 

 the rest of his feathered neighbors, and particularly the vig- 

 ilant ducks, that the whole, to the frequent disappointment 

 of the fowler, at once accompany their faithful and officious 

 sentinel. At times, indeed, without any particular motive 

 to excitement, except perhaps that of hilarity and vigor, 

 they are seen to rise high in the air, chattering so loudly, as 

 still to be heard when beyond the reach of the eye. From 

 13* 



