248 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE YELLOW-LEGS. 



TOTANUS FLAVIPES. 



PLATE XC1V. FIG. 212. 



Scolopax flavipes, Gmelin. Yelleui-slianks Snipe, Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 468. 



S. id. Wilson, Am. Ora. Vol. 7, p. 55, pi. 58, fig. 1. 



Totanus id. Ord's reprint, p. 59. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 324. Sabine, Franklin's Journey. 



T. id. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol.2, p. 390. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 152. 



T. id. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 5, p. 313, pi. 344. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 250. 



Characteristics. Dusky, spotted with black and white. Tail dull white, barred with 

 brown. Bill black, straight: feet yellow, and longer than the bill. 

 Length, 10-0. 



Description. Bill slender, straight, 1 ' 5 long, and turning down at the tip. Feet very 

 long. Tibia bare for half its length. Tail short, rounded. 



Color. Crown streaked and spotted with brown and grey. Neck grey, streaked with 

 brownish. Above blackish brown, varied with white, grey and rufous. Quills dark brown ; 

 the shaft of the first quill white. Space round the eye, and a line from the bill to the eye, 

 white. Chin, throat and beneath white, streaked on the neck with dark grey', and barred 

 with the same on the sides. Axillaries barred with brown. Rump white ; tail-feathers white, 

 with six to eight brown bars towards the tips. 



Length, 9* 5 -10- 5. 



This small species, which is described under the name of Yellow-shank Tatler, appears 

 in this State in the early part of May, on its way north to breed. Many, however, breed in 

 this State ; but the greater number go farther north. During the months of August and 

 September, they appear again in large flocks on their southern migration. During both mi- 

 grations, they spread in every direction through the interior. Its food consists of insects, 

 worms, and small aquatic animals. It ranges from Mexico, where it was seen by Lichten- 

 stein, to the sixty-eighth parallel of north latitude. Its history is yet incomplete. 



