70 WATER BIRDS 
portion near the coast throughout the winter, and, doubt- 
less, a few breed in the more northern Sierra Nevada 
district, though I am unable to find any authoritative 
breeding record. My own record shows that none were 
seen by me after May 9, although a search and lookout 
were maintained. They are conspicuous birds, and not 
easily mistaken for others of their family. The white 
tail and rump are distinguishing marks, particularly in 
flight. ‘This bird is the sentinel of the game-birds, 
giving warning of the approach of the hunter in loud, 
whistling notes repeated rapidly ; hence its names “ Tell- 
tale” and “ Long-legged Tattler.” Mr. Chapman writes 
of it delightfully as follows : 
“Few birds are flying; lulled by the lap, lap of the 
water, I have almost fallen asleep, when from far up 
in the gray sky comes a soft wheu, wheu, wheu. I 
respond quickly, and lying on my back, look eagerly 
upward. Not a bird can be seen, but the questioning 
call grows stronger, and is repeated more frequently. 
Finally I distinguish five or six black points sailing in 
narrow circles so high that I can scarcely believe they 
are the birds I hear. But no bar or shoal breaks the 
sound-waves. The birds grow larger, and widening cir- 
cles sweep earthward. Their soft whistle has a plaintive 
tone; their long bills turn inquiringly from side to side. 
The stolid decoys give no response, they repel rather 
than encourage; but the whistling continues, and with 
murmured notes of interrogation, the deluded birds wheel 
over them, to find too late that they have blundered.” 
