530 Nichols, Limicoline Voices. [bet. 



four, bird without intention of alighting, trying to flush decoys. 

 This may be called a recruiting call. 



(4) Twos, ("whew whew") seem to be characteristic of a re- 

 cruit. A "gentle" bird which comes nicely to decoys is apt to 

 call in twos when approaching and coming in. 



(5) Rarely, in taking wing in the presence of an intruder, a 

 single bird utters a string of unmodulated "whew"s which breaks 

 up into threes or fours as it goes off. This is likely a note of pro- 

 test, which would be more common in the breeding season. 



(6) Conversational murmuring, from a flock dropping in, ex- 

 presses companionship and confidence. 



(7) Conversational "chup" notes from birds about to alight, 

 also heard from birds alighted, moving about at ease. The 

 alighting note. 



(8) Unloud "chup's" identical with the preceding but more 

 hurried, given by a small flock of birds as they take wing. The 

 flushing note. 



(9) "Kyow, " — common in spring, only rarely heard in south- 

 ward migration; probably associated with the breeding season; 

 seems to express suspicion. 



Lesser Yellow-legs (Totanus flavipes). When on the ground 

 in flocks, the Lesser Yellow-legs is usually silent. The same is true 

 frequently of single birds coming in. In the air it is more or less 

 noisy and has two common distinct notes: — "whew" and "kip" 

 or "keup, " which seem to be used rather indiscriminately on var- 

 ious occasions and which vary into one another. Wandering- 

 singles and small companies seem to use the "whew" more, often 

 double. The combination "whew hip" is frequent. From large 

 companies, especially in uncertainty, one may hear a chorus of 

 "kip's." 



(1) The yodle probably corresponds in significance with that of 

 the Greater Yellow-legs — location. It is certainly its homolog 

 and scarcely, if at all, distinguishable from it. 



(2) The "whew" is a regular flight-note, likely advertisement. 

 Generally silent birds alighted, sometimes call an occasional 

 single "whew" (at such times particularly soft and mellow) be- 

 fore others drop in to join them, as if in welcome. 



