5 20 THE YELLOW-LEGS. 



not only the borders of lakes and marshes, but duck-ponds, brick-yard's, upland 

 pools and river bars as well. Sometimes they move uneasily from one pond 

 to another, as tho discontented with the fare offered; and at all times they 

 utter a querulous note which is perfectly characteristic, tew tew tew, tew 

 tew tew, — always in groups of three. The notes are vigorous and penetrating 

 as well as petulant, and therefore always pleasing as adding a distinct element 

 to the chorus of the season. 



While feeding, the Tattler wades about knee-deep, snatching its food from 

 the surface of the water, or else thrusting its head below for a quick search 

 along the bottom. At such times it may lie very alert or quite unwary, accord- 

 ing to the amount of persecution which it has previously endured. By gentle 

 advances I have walked entirely around a pool where these birds were feeding, 

 and they waded in toward the center breast deep rather than take wing. At 

 other times I have been unable to get within a hundrd yards of them. 



The Yellow-legs seldom remains above a day at any one station, but ad- 

 vances across the state by slow stages. The fall movement is a little more 

 leisurely than that of spring, inasmuch as the bird's business is less urgent: 

 and they are rather more numerous at that season. Tn their winter home, in 

 far off Argentina, the birds are said to mingle for a time with the members 

 of their race which constitute a southern division, and which must soon be 

 leaving for their breeding haunts within the Antarctic circle. 



No. 242. 



YELLOW-LEGS. 



A. < l. I". Xo. 255. Totanus flavipes (Gmel.). 



Synonyms. — Tattlek; LESSER Tattler. 



Description. — Adult in summer: Head and neck all around (save throat), 

 and breast, finely streaked with dusky, on white or ashy-white ground, the mark- 

 ings <m the sides of breast broader and heavier, passing into loose and rather indis- 

 tinct bars on sides ; remaining under parts white ; back and upper parts in general 

 light brownish gray, tinging also hind-neck and crown ; feathers of back and scapu- 

 lars with blackish centers, and irregular spotting of ashy white; the larger feathers, 

 especially tertials. with incomplete black bars; primaries dusky; the secondaries 

 with narrow edging of white; upper tail-coverts white, the terminal portion of 

 feathers dusky-barred : tail white or ashy gray, centrally, barred with dusky ; bill 

 as in preceding species. Winter plumage: Above light brownish gray, 

 with some darker shaft-lines, and considerable white spotting on edges of feathers ; 

 markings of neck and under parts much paler, grayish brown, partially obscured 

 or blended. Length about 10.50 (266.7) > av - of nve Columbus specimens: wing 

 6.11 1 155.2 1 ; tail 2.50 1 59.9) ; bill 1.46 j 57.1 1 ; tarsus [.98 I 50.3). 



