120 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



[252]. Black-tailed Godwit. Limosa limosa. 



A European and Asiatic species only casually occurring in Greenland. Very 

 similar in appearance to our Hudsonian Godwit, which is frequently called by 

 the name of this species. The nesting habits and the eggs are precisely like 

 those of the American bird. 



[253]. Green Shank. Totanus nebular ius. 



A common bird in Europe and the British Isles, but only American as having 

 been taken once in Florida. A very similar species to the following. 



254. Greater Yellow-legs. Totanus melanoleucus 



Whole of North America, nesting in the British Provinces and rarely in the 

 northern part of the Mississippi Valley. 



This and the next species are much sought 

 by sportsmen during their migrations; they 

 are commonly known as "Tell-tale," the 

 present species being the "Greater Tell- 

 tale." They are blackish above, specked 

 with white, and below are white and, in 

 summer, marked with arrowhead spots of 

 black. The legs, as implied by the name of 

 the bird, are yellow and long; length of bird, 

 14 inches. They nest most abundantly in 

 localties, remote from habitations, in the 

 interior of Canada. The eggs are generally 

 laid on the ground, near a marsh or on the 

 bank of a stream, with little or no lining to 

 the nest. They are grayish white, boldly splashed with several shades of brown, 

 and with lilac. Size 1.65 x 1.25. Data. Whale River, Labrador, June 10, 1902. 

 Eggs laid on the ground in an open marsh. Collector, E. H. Montgomery. 



[Grayish white,] 



255. Yellow-legs. Totanus flavipes. 



Range. North America, breeding chiefly in the interior and eastern parts of 

 Canada, and rarely in the upper Mississippi 



Valley. This species is very similar to the ^^aaa^^^ 



preceding, but is smaller; length 10.5 inches. 

 It is also called the "Lesser Telltale," a 

 name applied because of their wariness, and 

 because, when they fly, they warn all other 

 species within hearing, of clanger. Their 

 eggs are laid on the ground, and in .similar 

 localities to the preceding. They are three 

 or four in number, grayish or buffy in color, 

 and are quite heavily blotched and spotted 

 with rich brown and grayish or lilac. Size 

 1.60 x 1.20. Data. Whale River, Labrador, 

 June 14, 1902. Four eggs laid on the ground 

 in a large marsh. Collector, E. H. Montgomery. 



[Buffy.J 



