SHORE BIRDS 



254. Greater Yellow-legs. 

 Totanus melanoleucus . 



Range. — Whole of North America, nesting in 

 the Britisli Provinces and rarely in the northern 

 part of the Mississippi Valley. 



This and the next species are much sought by 

 sportsmen during their migrations; they are 

 commonly (tailed "Tell-tale," the present species 

 being the "Greater Tell-tale." They are blackish 

 above, speckled with white, and below are white 

 and, in summer, marked with arrowhead spots of 

 l)la(k. The legs, as implied by tlie name of the 





'4' 



Grayish white. 



bird, are yellow and long; length of bird, 14 

 inches. They nest most abundantly in localities 

 remote from habitations, in the interior of Can- 

 ada. The eggs are generally laid on the ground, 

 near a marsh or on the bank of a stream, with 

 little or no lining to the nest. They are grayish 

 white, boldly splashed with several shades of 

 brown, and with lilac. Size 1.65 x 1.25. Data. — 

 Whale River, Labrador, June 10, 1902. Eggs laid 

 on the ground in an open marsh. 



■^ 





Greater Yellow-letjs. 

 Yellow-legs. 



255. Yellow-legs. Totanus flavipes. 



Range. — North America, breeding chiefly in the interior and eastern parts of 

 Canada, and rarely in the upper Mississippi Valley. This species is very sim- 

 ilar to the preceding, but is smaller; length 

 10.5 inches. It is also called the "Lesser 

 Telltale," a name applied because of their 

 wariness, and because, when they fly, they 

 warn all other species within hearing, of 

 danger. Their eggs are laid on the ground, 

 and in similar localities to the preceding. 

 They are three or four in number, grayish 

 or buffy in color, and are quite heavily 

 blotched and spotted with rich brown and 

 grayish or lilac. Size 1.60 x 1.20. Data. — 

 Whale River, Labrador, June 14, 1902. Four 

 eggs laid on the ground in a large marsh, Puffy. 



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