GREEN-RUMP TATLER. 159 



GREEN-RUMP TATLER. 



(Totanns chloropygms, Vieill. Bonap. Synops. No. 263. Richard. 

 North. Zool. ii. p. 393. Solitary Sandpiper, (Tringa solitaria,) 

 Wilson, vii. p. 53. pi. 58. fig. 3. Phil. Museum, No. 7763.) 



Sp. Charact. — Brown-olive, with slight green reflections, and 

 spotted with whitish ; rump and middle tail feathers also dark 

 brown ; tail white, broadly barred with blackish; quills and their 

 shafts brownish-black. 



The Solitary Tatler of Wilson is, probably, with the 

 change of seasons, a general inhabitant of the whole North 

 American continent. Early in May it arrives in Pennsyl- 

 vania from the south, and a few remain to breed, according 

 to the above author, in the marshy solitudes of the moun- 

 tains of Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania ; the greater 

 part of the species, proceed, however, to the boreal regions, 

 as far as the extremity of the continent. According to 

 Richardson, it makes no nest, but merely deposits its eggs 

 on the bare beach, or the gravelly banks of rivers ; in such 

 situations, or near mountain springs, brooks, or pools, they 

 are seen solitary or by pairs, running swiftly when alarmed 

 or in pursuit of their prey, and seldom taking wing until 

 hard pressed, on which occasion it makes a short circular 

 flight, and soon alights near the same place to renew its 

 search for subsistence. Occasionally it stops and watches 

 the observer, often nodding or balancing its head and tail, 

 almost in the manner of the European Wagtail (3IotacilIa). 

 It is extremely unsuspicious of danger, proceeding in its 

 usual occupation almost unconcerned, w^hen nearly ap- 

 proached : in fact, the safety of the species, is in no small 

 measure, due to their solitary and retiring habits, as they 

 are never seen on the strand of the sea, nor collected into 



