1916 J Nichols and Harper, Long Island Shore Birds. 249 



or wooden birds is well placed, and the hunter resists the temptation to 

 make any movement behind his screen of bushes, the gregarious instinct of 

 the Yellowlegs may overcome their well-founded suspicions and induce 

 them to join their supposed comrades. Upon such an occasion, to fill one's 

 gaze with the large, graceful snipe, as they come low over the marsh, set 

 their long, curving wings, and drop with dangling legs into the pool near 

 the farthest decoys, keeping their wings lifted high over their backs for a 

 moment after alighting, is one of the most fascinating and thrilling experi- 

 ences to be had on the Long Island marshes. And if the instrument that 

 the hunter then trains upon his game is capable of no louder noise than the 

 click of a shutter, so much the richer is his reward. 



When in flocks, the Greater Yellowlegs do not associate closely with 

 other species, and keep to themselves even when feeding in the same pool 

 with a variety of shore birds. We have, however, noticed single birds in 

 the company of other large snipe, such as the Lesser Yellowlegs and the 

 Dowitcher. 



Though, as we have already suggested, this species occurs usually in 

 bands of less than ten individuals, we had a flock of about 30 birds under 

 observation for a number of hours on May 20 and 21, 1911, at the well- 

 known Oak Island pool. When we approached the place, numerous 

 Oxeyes merely moved to the farther side of the pool; half a dozen Black- 

 bellied Plovers departed at once, and perhaps for good; the Yellowlegs, 

 too, took flight, but after our blinds were built, they returned again and 

 again, no matter how often disturbed. The pool contained, at that time, 

 only an inch or two of water, and the Yellowlegs continually ran back and 

 forth over the middle of it in an odd fashion. In spite of the extreme length 

 and thinness of their legs, their movements were by no means ungainly. 

 It can only be conjectm^ed that these maneuvers were undertaken for the 

 purpose of securing food, for now and then a bird' would dart its bill into 

 the water, as if to snatch up some small inhabitant of the pool, such as a 

 fleeing killLfish. 



The Greater Yellowlegs is possessed of a varied vocabulary, which seems 

 to have been slighted by most ornithological writers. Its principal notes 

 consist of three very different kinds, all of which may be heard from a single 

 bird in the space of only a few minutes. 



A second note is less often heard than the usually described whistle; 

 it seems to be used as a ' summons ' call, as when bu'ds on the ground call 

 down a passing flock. It is a very pleasant and musical note, and oft- 

 repeated — too-ivhee, too-ivhee, too-whee, to6-whee, to6-whee. Hunters may 

 use it to good effect in calling the birds to decoys. Some of them refer to 

 this note as the ' roll ' . 



A third call is nothing short of astonishing tp one who hears it for the 

 first time. It is a curious, discordant cackle, or yelp, which probably gives 

 rise to the vernacular name of ' Yelper.' A solitary Yellowlegs, alighting 

 in a pool beyond the decoys, and entertaining strong suspicions of the blind, 

 though not sufficiently alarmed to depart at once, is very apt to indulge in 



