342 BULLETIN 142, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



decoys, one bird alighted first, had a low-pitehed, unfamiliar too-dle-hoo-hoo, 

 too-dle-hoo-hoo, too-dle-hoo-hoo, before the others, still on the wing, came back 

 and alighted with it. Though probably of similar derivation, this note was 

 quite different from the yodle of the species, and is probably more of a gather 

 call (Long Island, August). 



(2) The when is a regular -flight note, likely advertisement. Generally silent 

 birds alighted, sometimes call an occasional single when (at such times par- 

 ticularly soft and mellow) before others drop in to join them, as if in welcome. 



When double this note of the lesser yellow-legs is at times clear and full, 

 difficult to differentiate from that of the larger species, and apparently like- 

 wise characteristic of a " gentle " bird, which will join decoys or others alighted. 



(5) Whereas the icheu note of the lesser yellow-legs is most frequently 

 single and very seldom more than double, I have heard a variation of it in 

 series from one of an alighted flock (Mastic, July 13, 1919), hyu-hyu-hyu- 

 hyu-liyu, etc. Presumably this was in protest at my presence, corresponding 

 to the similar note of the larger species. 



(6) Soft, unloud murmuring of a flock in chorus, yu yu yu, etc., character- 

 istically heard, as on August 10, 1919, from a flock moving leisurely over the 

 meadows, after having been flushed, to shortly alight again, expressive of 

 companionship and confidence. 



(7) When dropping down to alight, often hovering over decoys, a flock of 

 lesser yellow-legs has soft short cup, cup, cup, etc., notes. 



(8) At the instant of flushing almost the identical notes as above given 

 hurriedly with more emphasis. This for the lesser yellow-legs is a rough 

 analog of the cheeping note of the pectoral sandpiper, but in view of the differ- 

 ent habits of the two species, can not be said to be strictly analogous with same. 



(10) An unloud chuckle or series of short notes suggesting a very distant 

 jack curlew, heard sometimes, not very frequently, when one or more birds take 

 wing. Should probably be considered a flushing note or signal to take wing. 

 Seems like the attempt of one individual to reproduce the preceding, which 

 is often from several birds of a flock. 



(11) The kip is likely one bird calling to another close-by. It is typically a 

 flocking note, otherwise used almost exactly as is note No. 2. A variation, 

 keup, with broader sound, approaching the when, expressing attention, is fre- 

 quent. It has been heard from a flock of birds which had been resting and 

 bathing, just before taking wing (Mastic, September 15, 1918). 



(12) An infrequent note of quite different character from the lesser yellow- 

 legs' ordinary calls is very high and clear, queep. It is subject to much varia- 

 tion, as peep-quip, eep! but is characterized by the high ee sound. It has been 

 heard from birds alighted, more particularly when their companions, alarmed 

 or for some other reason, move on, and is thought of as the tarrying individual's 

 note. On August 17, 1919, I had picked up decoys preparatory to leaving a 

 pool in the meadows when a single lesser yellow-legs came down to the pool 

 calling a similar kee-a on the wing, though I was in full view. It went on with- 

 out alighting with wheu notes characteristic of the species. Probably this was 

 an individual which wanted to stay, from a small company which had left the 

 meadow. 



(13) Wounded birds, on being pursued and captured, have a harsh scream 

 of fear, chcerp. I have noticed this from birds of the year in southward mi- 

 gration only, not from adults under the same circumstances. 



The above numbers indicate notes analogous with those of the 

 greater yellow-legs, similarly numbered. Where the lesser has no 



