SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 97 



feet toucli the earth. But though fascinating to watch at their 

 feeding grounds, they are seen at their best when they come in high 

 from a distance on angular tern-like wings and sweep swiftly down 

 through the sky. 



255. TotanUS flavipes [Gmel). Lesser Yellow-le<;s. 

 Smaller than melanoleucus. Pluraag-e similar in all its stages, but with 



finer markings. Length : 9.5U-1 1.00, wing 

 6.10-6.65, bill 1.80-1.55, tarsus 2.00-2.15. 



Distribution. — Nearly the whole of 

 America, breeding- mainly north of the Pl^ ^j. 



United States; migrating to southern 

 South America. Less common west of the Rocky Mountains ; accidental 

 in Europe. 



Nest. — A mere depression in the ground, sometimes lined with leaves 

 or grass. Eggs : usually 4, of varying shades of buff, spotted with dark 

 browns. 



In habits as well as general appearance the lesser yellow -legs 

 resembles its larger relative, with which it is often found, sometimes 

 in the same rtock but more often in separate flocks on the same 

 feeding ground. When seen together the difference in size is most 

 noticeable, though the birds are otherwise counterparts. 



GENUS HELODROMAS. 



General Characters. — Bill very slender, a little longer than head ; legs 

 and toes olive green, long, and slender ; tarsus scarcely longer than middle 

 toe and claw. 



KEY TO ADULTS. 



1. Specking of back white or creamy solitarius, p. 97. 



1. Specking of back cinnamon brown .... cinnamomeus, p. 98. 



256. Helodromas solitarius (Wils.). Somtaky Sandpipf.u. 



Adults in suinnur. — Upper parts, including upper t.iil cuvt'rt.s and two 

 middle tail feathers, dark olive gray, finely 

 specked with whitish ; rest of tail barred 

 with white ; outer ([uills and edge of wing 

 deep black ; under parts white, stn-aked 

 with dusky on chest and throat. Adults 

 in u-intcr : upper parts more dusky and less olive, chest less streaked. 

 Youn<): specking of liack huffv, and duskv of chest and sides tinged with 

 buff. ' Wing: 4.S:5-5.1'.». tail 2.05-2.2S. bill 1.0;;-i.20. 



Ui'inarks. — The solitary is distinguished from the other sandpipers in 

 tlie field by its dark color .and black wings, and l)y its shrill note ;us it takes 

 wing. 



Distrihution. — North America ejist of the Rocky Motmtains. bree<ling 

 from the northern United States northward. ;nid nugr.it ing to Argentina 

 and Peru. 



Xe.st. — A .slight depression in the grotind lined with leaves and gra-ss. 

 Eggs : said to be 2 to 4, dull buifv, spotted with rich brown and piirplish 

 g^ay. Few nests have ever been found or well identified eggs collected. 



