GEE ATE R YELLOW -LEGS 401 



while some of the young birds on the breeding ground are not yet 

 fully fledged (Bent, 1907a, pp. 166-167). 



The food of the Marbled Godwit consists of Crustacea, insects and 

 their larvae, worms (Goss, 1891, p. 187), leeches (Baird, Brewer and 

 Ridgway, 1884, I, p. 256), and snails (Beck, MS). Belding states 

 (MS) "I find its flesh . . . excellent food, much preferable to the 

 Curlews. " " Other authors agree that the flesh of the Godwit is tender, 

 juicy, and toothsome. The weight of a specimen was found by the 

 authors to be one pound, so that the quantity of nourishment in a 

 single bird is not inconsiderable. 



This species was formerly sold in the markets of San Francisco 

 and Stockton. The limited numbers which occur here during migra- 

 tion at the present time is probably due in part to market hunting in 

 previous years, and in part to the appropriation by man, of its breed- 

 ing range for agriculture. In Canada the Godwit appears now to be 

 adequately protected, and with such protection as has been afforded 

 by the close season established under the Federal Migratory Bird 

 Law in the United States, there is ground for the hope that they 

 may soon return toward former numbers. When the season is again 

 opened, the species should be afforded adequate protection by a short 

 season and small bag-limit in order to retain it among the game assets 

 of California. 



Greater Yellov^-legs 



Toianus melanoleucus (Gmelin) 



Other names — Tattler; Tell-tale; Tell-tale Tattler; Stone Suipe; Greater 

 Yellow-shanks; Gambetta melaiiolettca. 



Description — Adults, both sexes, in spring and summer: Top and sides of 

 head and whole neck streaked with black and white, the black in excess above; 

 a whitish stripe from upper mandible to above eye; eyelids white; chin white, 

 narrowly flecked with black; bill slaty black, lower mandible slightly brownish 

 at base; iris dark brown; back and scapulars mixed sooty and ashy brown 

 with extensive ashy white feather spottings and tippings, giving a conspicu- 

 ously mottled appearance; rump feathers dull dark brown, each crossed near 

 end by a narrow blackish band and tipped with white; upper tail coverts 

 w^hite, most of them barred narrowly with dark brown; tail feathers white or 

 ashy white, barred with brownish black; outer surface of closed wing like 

 back; primaries brownish black; shaft of outer primary almost white; margin 

 and lining of wing, and axillars, white, with irregular brown bars on the 

 feathers; under surface of flight feathers, dusky, marked in fine pattern with 

 a paler tint on inner margins; ground color of whole lower surface white; 

 foreneck and breast streaked with black; lower breast, sides, flanks, and under 

 tail coverts, with broad irregular bars of brown or brownish black; legs and 

 feet straw yellow with a greenish tinge; nails black. Adults and immatures, 

 both sexes, in fall and winter: Top and sides of head and whole neck, dully 

 streaked with ashy brown and white; stripe from bill to above eye, and eyelids, 



