GREATER VELLOW-LEGS. I 53 



ularly in the vicinity of Chatham and Ipswich) , and of which 

 but few 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 stigma- 

 tized him with the present name ; for no sooner does the gun- 

 ner 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 vigilant 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 their note they are called 

 by the Cree Indians of Hudson Bay ^Sasashew, and in this 

 part of New England they are usually known by the name of 

 the Winter Yellow- Leg. 



The Tell-Tales, after taking up a summer residence in the 

 marshes, are no longer gregarious until the return of winter, 

 when, with the addition of the young, they rove about in small 

 parties until their final departure for the South. Like most of 

 the species, they frequent watery bogs and the muddy margins 

 of creeks and inlets, where they are often seen in quest of food 

 or standing in a watchful posture, alternately balancing them- 

 selves, raising or lowering the head and tail, and on the least 

 appearance of danger or surprise, which they readily perceive 

 from the elevation of their legs and the open places in which 

 they feed, their loud whistle is instantly heard and the tim- 

 orous and less watchful flocks are again in motion. They 

 sometimes penetrate, singly or in small numbers, some way 

 inland along the muddy shores of estuaries and rivers to the 



