THE YELLOW-LEGS. 455 
The Greater Yellow-legs is not common in New England ; 
a few being taken annually. 
Nuttall, in describing its habits, &e., says, — 
“The Greater Yellow-shanks, or Telltale, so remarkable for its 
noise and vigilance, arrives on the coast of the Middle States early 
in April, and, proceeding principally by an inland route, is seen in 
abundance as far north as the plains of the Saskatchewan, where, no 
doubt, in those desolate and secluded marshes, far from the prying 
eye and persecuting hand of man, the principal part of the species 
pass the period of reproduction, re-appearing in the cooler parts 
of the Union towards the close of August: yet so extensive is the 
breeding range of the Telltale, that many continue to occupy 
the marshes of the Middle States until the approach of cold 
weather, in the month of November, breeding in their favorite 
resorts, on the borders of bogs; securing the nest in a tuft of rank 
grass or sedge; and laying four eggs, of a dingy-white, irregularly 
marked with spots of dark-brown or black.” 
The vociferous vigilance of the Telltale has justly stig- 
matized him with the present name; for no sooner does the 
gunner appear than his loud and shrill whistle of about four 
rapidly repeated notes is instantly heard, as he mounts on 
wing, and proves generally so good a warning to all the rest 
of his feathered neighbors, and particularly the vigilant ducks, 
that the whole, to the frequent disappointment of the fowler, 
at once accompany their faithful and officious sentinel. 
The food of the Telltale is similar to that of our other 
shore birds. This it obtains by wading in the pools and 
ditches, which it is almost constantly doing; it being seldom 
seen in the grass or running on the beach like the Sand- 
pipers. 
GAMBETTA FLAVIPES. — Bonaparte. 
The Yellow-legs. 
Scolopax flavipes, Gmelin. Syst. Nat., I. (1788) 659. Wils. Am. Orn., VII. 
1813) 55. 
Totanus flavipes, Audubon. Orn. Biog., III. (1835) 578; V. 586. 0., Birds 
Am., V. (1842) 313. 
Gambetta flavipes, Bonaparte. Comptes Rendus (Sept., 1856). 
