234 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OF 



ral Report, has been proved to be the T. semipalmata of Wilson, by actual ex- 

 amination of the type specimen. This being the case, Ereunetes must be usftd 

 in the present connection, though for the reasons given above, petrijicat\ts 

 cannot be retained. The cause of Nuttall's proposing for the bird a new genius 

 was probably the fact that Bonaparte in 1828 employed his Hemipalama iVi 

 connection with a very diflferent bird — the Micropalama himantopus of Baird^ 

 with which it has scarcely a generic character in common except the webbed 

 toes. As a reference to the article will show, the name was proposed for, and 

 first used in connection with, the T. semipalmata Wils. 



I have thought it well to present the synouomy of this species, since, as will 

 be seen, it has received a great variety of names. According to the General 

 Report, the Heteropoda Mauri of Bonaparte, or the Ereunetes Mauri of Cabanis, 

 is merely a large race of the present bird ; while the remarkable variations in 

 the length of the bill, to which the species is subject, have given rise to the 

 Hemipalama minor of Gundlach, and the Tringa brevirostris of Spix. Pelidna 

 Brissoni of Lesson is probably this species, since he refers to Tringa pusilla of 

 Linnaeus. 



No individuals of this species were observed until the latter part of July, 

 but soon after that date they became excessively abundant, and continm^d so 

 during the month of August. When on muddy flats I generally found them 

 associated with the Ring Plovers and Bonaparte's Sandpipers ; but when on 

 open sandy beaches they keep mostly to themselves, sometimes in flocks of 

 great extent, the other species with which they principally mix not generally 

 frequenting such situations. When in large flocks dozens may be killed at a 

 shot ; and as, after many wheelings, they often alight again on the same spot, 

 they aflford a second opportunity to the gunner. When wounded, they swim 

 with considerable ease, aided by their semipalmated feet ; but they are not 

 capable of diving to any extent. These birds, possessing very few distinctive 

 traits of habit among the smaller Sandpipers, are yet remarkable in one par- 

 ticular — the great facility with which they may be decoyed by imitating their 

 call — a low mellow whistle. When skilfally executed, I have seen them ap- 

 proach within a few feet of the person seated on a rock in full view, though a 

 moment after, on discovering their mistake, they would immediately take 

 flight. They are also noted for the excessively fat condition in which they 

 are always found in the fall, exceeding that of almost any other bird of their 

 family. In this state they are delicious eating, being tender, juicy and deli- 

 cately flavored, but on account of their diminutive size they are not much 

 sought after. This species is the " PeeT^ " par excellence, though the Acto- 

 dromas Bonapartei and minutilla are also known by the same name. 



Gambetta melanoleuca (Gm.) Bon. — Tell-tale. " Yellow- legs." 



Totanus vociferus, Aud., Birds Amer. v. 316, pi. 345. 

 Gambetta melanoleuca, Cassin, Gen. Rep. 731. 



This large tatler, so well known and so universally disliked by all gunners 

 on account of its watchful and noisy nature, is a very common bird along the 

 coast of Labrador during the summer and early fall. During the fore j)art of 

 the summer I found them very wary and difficult of approach. They would 

 stand motionless and in silence, regarding me with watchful attention until I 

 was nearly within shooting distance, when, at a single note from one of the 

 flock, all would instantly take flight, emitting their loud and clear whistling, 

 as if rejoicing at my discomSture. By the middle of August, however, they 

 seemed to have laid aside their watchfulness, and numbers were procured 

 without difiiculty. Though found in all situations near the water, their favo- 

 rite localities seemed to be the muddy flats laid bare by the tide, the salt 

 marshes adjoining them, and the pools which dot these marshes. They are 

 seldom found in good condition for the table, being generally very lean. They 

 are known altogether as " Yellow-legs." 



[Aug. 



