334 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 



ally common along the coast, has the upper parts varied 

 with ashy, black, and reddish; the under parts below the 

 breast are white. This color changes in winter, the su- 

 perior region being speckled with white and black, and 

 the lower with white; the reddish tinge disappears. 



The tattlers make up in numbers what they lack in 

 diversity of species, being found all over the Continent. 

 Among the best known is the semipalmated tattler, or 

 willet {Tetanus semipalmat us), which, in summer, is gray- 

 ish above, with black markings, and white below; the 

 throat, breast and sides, being streaked with dusky. It 

 is devoid of these spots in winter, and presents an ashy- 

 gray hue. Being quite large, it is shot by all lovers of 

 the gun, but it is not highly appreciated for its gastro- 

 nomic qualities. 



The greater telltale, greater yellow-shanks, stone snipe, 

 or yellow-legged tattler {Totanus melanoleucus), is a 

 watchful, noisy bird, which seems to have been created 

 for the special purpose of making the sportsmen use 

 " swear words," and of calling the attention of all bay 

 birds to his nefarious designs. One of these spindle- 

 shanked creatures will stand motionless and silent until 

 the fowler approaches, and then give vent to such a pe- 

 cuhar cry that it arouses every living bird within hearing 

 distance, and causes it to leave for saf^' quarters. It is 

 to the bay birds what the jay is to the denizens of the 

 forest, and, like the latter, it seems to rejoice in the dis- 

 comfiture of the gunner. Being a frequenter of muddy flats 

 and salt-water marshes, its flesh is not considered good, 

 hence it is not generally shot for the table. Tlie lesser yel- 

 low-legs, or telltale ( T. flavipes), looks like the preceding in 

 everything but size, and is as great a tattler. The solitary 

 tattler ( T. solitarius) is a lustrous olive-brown above and 

 white below; the sides of the head and neck are streaked 

 with dusky; and the tail is marked with black and white. 

 It is a resident of wet woods and swamps, and one or two 



