520 THE YELLOW-LEGS. 



not only the borders of lakes and marshes, but duck-ponds, brick-yards, upland 

 pools and river bars as well. Sometimes they move uneasily from one pond 

 to another, as tho discontented with the fare offered ; and at all times they 

 utter a querulous note which is perfectly characteristic, teiv tew tew, tew 

 tew tciv, always in groups of three. The notes are vigorous and penetrating 

 as well as petulant, and therefore always pleasing as adding a distinct element 

 to the chorus of the season. 



\Yhile feeding, the Tattler wades about knee-deep, snatching its food from 

 the surface of the water, or else thrusting its head below for a quick search 

 along the bottom. At such times it may be very alert or quite unwary, accord- 

 ing to the amount of persecution which it has previously endured. By gentle 

 advances I have walked entirely around a pool where these birds were feeding, 

 and they waded in toward the center breast deep rather than take wing. At 

 other times I have been unable to get within a hundrd yards of them. 



The Yellow-legs seldom remains above a day at any one station, but ad- 

 vances across the state by slow stages. The fall movement is a little more 

 leisurely than that of spring, inasmuch as the bird's business is less urgent; 

 and they are rather more numerous at that season. In their winter home, in 

 far off Argentina, the birds are said to mingle for a time with the members 

 of their race which constitute a southern division, and which must soon be 

 leaving for their breeding haunts within the Antarctic circle. 



No. 242. 



YELLOW-LEGS. 



A. O. U. Xo. 255. Totanus flavipes (Gmel.). 



Synonyms. TATTLER; LESSER TATTLER. 



Description. Adult in summer: Head and neck all around (save throat), 

 and breast, finely streaked with dusky, on white or ashy-white ground, the mark- 

 ings on the sides of breast broader and heavier, passing into loose and rather indis- 

 tinct bars on sides ; remaining under parts white ; back and upper parts in general 

 light brownish gray, tinging also hind-neck and crown ; feathers of back and scapu- 

 lars with blackish centers, and irregular spotting of ashy white ; the larger feathers, 

 especially tertials, with incomplete black bars; primaries dusky; the secondaries 

 with narrow edging of white; upper tail-coverts white, the terminal portion of 

 feathers dusky-barred ; tail white or ashy gray, centrally, barred with dusky ; bill 

 and feet as in preceding species. Winter plumage: Above light brownish gray, 

 with some darker shaft-lines, and considerable white spotting on edges of feathers ; 

 markings of neck and under parts much paler, grayish brown, partially obscured 

 or blended. Length about 10.50 (266.7) J av - of five Columbus specimens: wing 

 6. 1 1 (155.2) ; tail 2.36 (59.9) ; bill 1.46 (37.1) ; tarsus 1.98 (50.3). 



