414 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. IX. 



down the scale, is known to "gunners" throughout the land. Al- 

 though not as abundant as in former years, it is still numerous in 

 many locations during the migrations. 



Mr. E. W. Nelson writes: "A common migrant and regular summer 

 resident. Breeds. Arrives about the middle of April, the larger 

 portion passing north early in May. * '■' * * In June, 1875, I found 

 several pairs of these birds about the Calumet marshes, where from 

 their actions I was certain they were breeding, but was not fortunate 

 enough to find their nests. The loth of June, 1876, Mr. Rice observed 

 a pair about a prairie slough near Evanston. A few days later a set 

 of four eggs were brought him from a similar situation a few miles 

 northwest of that place and from the description of the parent bird 

 — driven from the nest — he decided they must belong to this species." 

 (Birds N. E. Illinois, 1876, p. 128.) Regarding its occurrence in Wis- 

 consin, Kumlien and Hollister say: "A common migrant, spring and 

 fall, and also a summer resident. '•' '■' * * At Lake Koshkonong it 

 bred at considerable distance from the lake far out in the iniry 

 marshes and did not often visit the lake shore until the young were 

 nearly full grown." (Birds of Wisconsin, 1903, p. 49.) They also 

 state that downy young were procured by L. Kumlien near Minnesota 

 Junction in 1882. 



The nest is composed of grass on the ground. The eggs are four, 

 pale brown or buff color, spotted and marked with dark brown. 

 They measure about 1.45 x 1.20 inches. 



125. Totanus flavipes (Gmel.). 



Yellow-legs. 



Local names: Summer Yellow-legs. Little Telltale. 



Distr.: North America, south in winter to South America, 

 breeds chiefly north of the United States; more common in eastern 

 than in western North America. 



Adult: Upper parts, grayish brown, mottled with whitish on the 

 back; chin, white; throat, white, streaked with pale grayish brown; 

 breast, mottled; belly, white; tail feathers, banded brown and white; 

 upper tail coverts, white, more or less barred with black; axillars, 

 white, barred with broivn; bill, black; legs, yellow. 



Reseinbles the Greater Yellow-legs, but is smaller. 



Length, 10.80; wing, 6.45; tarsus, 2.10; bill, 1.45. 



This species is still common during the migrations in Illinois and 

 Wisconsin, and a few remain during the summer; but non-breeding 

 or wounded birds of many species are found far south of their usual 



