238 SCOLOPACID^E I SNIPE, ETC. 



ceding, as odd birds may be found with us throughout 

 that season. Its cries resemble those of the other, but 

 are clearer and not so loud. 



The Yellowshank, so far as known, nests only in high 

 latitudes. The eggs are deposited on the ground, in a 

 little depression, lined with a few dried leaves or grasses. 

 They are three or four in number, narrowly and 

 pointedly pyriform, measuring from 1.58 X 1.18 to 1.78 

 X 1.15 ; the longest not being always also the broadest. 

 The ground is a clear clay-color, sometimes tending 

 more to buffy or creamy, sometimes rather to light 

 brown. The marking is bold and heavy, but presents 

 the customary great diversity, some eggs being very 

 heavily splashed with blotches confluent about the 

 larger end, while others have smaller clean-edged spots 

 all over the surface. The markings are rich umber- 

 brown, often tending to chocolate, sometimes almost 

 blackish. The paler shell-markings are usually numer- 

 ous and noticeable. An occasional "albino" egg is 

 seen, whitish, with scarcely any markings. All the 

 many eggs examined are from Arctic America. 



SOLITARY TATTLER ; AMERICAN GREEN 

 SANDPIPER. 



RHYACOPHILUS SOLITARIUS (Wils.} Bp. 



Chars. Bill moderately longer than head, very slender, straight, 

 grooved a little beyond the middle ; bill and legs both dark- 

 colored ; only a very rudimentary web between inner and middle 

 toe. Above, dark lustrous olive-brown, streaked on the head 

 and neck, elsewhere finely speckled, with white. Below, white, 

 the jugulum and sides of neck shaded with brownish and 

 streaked with dusky ; sides, axillars, lining of wings, and tail- 



