YELLOW-SHANKS GAMBET. 351 



dicularly, and nearly meeting over the back, after 

 which they settled down again. One, whose wing 

 had been broken, I allowed to run about my room, 

 having first cut ofi" the dangling joint. It had much 

 of the manners of the Kildeer (see p. 331), but fre- 

 quently held up the wings perpendicularly, when 

 running. 



That the power of swimming does not depend 

 on webbed feet, is now pretty well known ; some 

 instances I have mentioned already. A Bar-tail, shot 

 at Mount Edgecumbe pond, plunged into the water, 

 and swam vigorously, striking out with both feet. 

 On another occasion a Sandpiper, I do not know 

 of what species, being wounded, plunged into a 

 river, and swam some distance ; but Sam pursuing 

 and approaching it, it dived, and swam swiftly under 

 water, like a Grebe, coming up at the distance of 

 several yards, then instantly diving again, till at 

 last it effected its escape among the reeds and bushes 

 at the margin. 



YELLOW-SHAKKS GAMBET.* 



Totanus fiavipes. 



Scolopaxjiavipes, WiLS. — Aud. pi. 288. 



Totanus Jlavipes, Bechst. 



During the winter we met with this species on 

 one or two occasions, always solitary, wading in 



* Length 10^ inches, expanse 19^, flexure 6-|, tail 2|, rictus 1^, tar- 

 sus 2^, middle toe 1~. 



