THE GREATER YELLOW-LEGS. 5 iq 



The Hudsonian Godvvits spend our winter in the Argentine Republic, 

 but do not nest there, remaining together instead in small flocks of from one 

 to two dozen individuals. It is possible, however, as Hudson surmises, that 

 a certain proportion of the species does breed in the Antarctic region, while 

 the majority are spending their true summer in the northern part of North 

 America. 



No. 241. 



GREATER YELLOW-LEGS. 



A. O. U. No. 254. Totanus melanoleucus (Gmel.). 



Synonyms. — Long-legged Tattler; Stone Snipe. 



Description. — Adult in summer: Above dusky or blackish gray; streaked 

 on the head and neck, and spotted on the edges of feathers of back, scapulars, etc., 

 with white; edge of wing, and quills plain dusky; the upper tail-coverts white, 

 narrowly barred on terminal portions with dusky ; tail narrowly barred dusky and 

 white, the central feathers darker; under parts white, the fore-neck and _ breast 

 heavily spotted and streaked, and the sides barred with dusky ; " bill straight or 

 slightly inclined upward, not with regular curve, but as if bent near the middle, 

 black or greenish black ;" feet and legs bright yellow. Adult in winter : Upper 

 parts fuscous, or light grayish brown, the anterior portions whitish-edged, and 

 whitish-tipped; feathers "of 'back, etc., with spots or incipient bars of dusky and 

 white on edges ; margining of under parts not so heavy. Immature : Like adult in 

 winter, but darker above, the white spotting with some admixture of brownish buff. 

 Length about 14.00 (355.6) ; wing 7.60 (193.) ; tail 3.1 1 (79.) ; bill 2.15 (54.6) ; 

 tarsus 2.40 (61.). 



Recognition Marks.— Little Hawk size; long yellow legs; white upper tail- 

 coverts, with sober dusky and white coloration, distinctive for size; Tczv, tew, tew, 

 notes. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, on the ground. Eggs, 3 or 4, 

 "brownish buffy, distinctly but very irregularly spotted with rich Vandyke or mad- 

 der brown." A v. size, 1.43 x 1.20 (36.3 x 30.5) (Ridgw.). 



General Range. — America in general, breeding from Iowa and northern Illi- 

 nois, etc., northward, and migrating south to Chili and Argentine Republic. 



Range in Ohio.— "Fairly common during the migrations over the entire 

 state" ( Jones). 



OF the larger Limicolse this species is perhaps the commonest during 

 migrations. In saying this, however, one draws the line of size between 

 the Greater Yellow-legs and its lesser double, T. thru pes; for the latter is 

 undoubtedly still more common. The impression of abundance is heightened 

 by the restless, noisy ways of these Tattlers, so that if there be a single bird 

 about a pond, the whole country-side is likely to know it. The birds frequent 



