668 THE GREATER YELLOW-LEGS. 
parts fuscous, or light grayish brown, the anterior portions whitish-edged, and 
whitish-tipped ; feathers of back, ete., with spots or incipient bars of dusky and 
white on edges ; margining of underparts not so heavy. /mmature: Like adult in 
winter, but darker above, the white spotting with some admixture of brownish 
buff. Length about 14.00 (355.6) ; wing 7.60 (193); tail 3.11 (79); bill 2.15 
(54.6); tarsus 2.40 (OI). 
Recognition Marks.—Little Hawk size; long yellow legs; white upper tail- 
coverts, with sober dusky and white coloration, distinctive for size; Tew, tew, tew, 
notes. 
Nesting.—Not known to breed in Washington. Nest; on the ground. Eggs: 
3 or 4, “brownish buffy, distinctly but very irregularly spotted with rich Vandyke 
or madder brown.” Av. size, 1.43 X 1.20 (36.3 X 30.5). 
General Range.—America in general, breeding from Iowa and northern 
Ilinois, ete., northward, and migrating south to Chili and Argentine Republic. 
Range in Washington.—Fairly common during the migrations over the 
entire State. 
Authorities—Gambetta melanoleuca (Gm.) Bon., Baird, Rep. Pac.. R. R. 
Surv. IX., 1858, p. 732. C&S. L?. Rh. D'. D2. B. E. 
Specimens.—( U.of W.) Prov. P. B. E. 
WHILE most Sandpipers indulge in a conversational twitter, or low 
musical piping, they are usually content to reserve their serious vocal efforts 
for the Northland and the nesting time. Not so with this bustling Tell-tale; 
he must needs proclaim his presence loudly wherever found. And not only 
so, but he takes such pains to publish by his distrustful notes the movements 
of the hunter, that he gets himself cordially disliked and numerously assassin- 
ated. While no longer common, the impression of abundance is sustained by 
the restless noisy ways of these Tattlers, so that if there be a single bird about 
a horse-pond, the whole country-side is likely to know of it. The birds fre- 
quent not only tide flats and salt water marshes, but duck ponds, upland pools, 
and river bars as well. Sometimes they move uneasily from one part of the 
pond to another, as tho discontented with the fare offered; and at all times, 
with reason or without it, they utter their high querulous notes, tew tew few, 
tew tew tew,—always in groups of three. The notes are vigorous and pene- 
trating as well as petulant, but no one save the hunter need resent them. 
While feeding, the Tattler wades about, knee-deep, snatching its food 
from the surface of the water, or else thrusting its head below for a quick 
search along the bottom. At such times it may be very alert or quite unwary 
according to the amount of persecution it has previously endured. By the side 
of a farmyard pond I once watched a bird which seemed rather to enjoy 
company, so long as you didn’t actually step on him. With immaculate under- 
garments rolled tightly above each knee (or heel, if you insist on anatomical 
correctness ), he would adventure to wade around you rather than to fly out 
