SPECIES!. SCOLOPAX FLAVIPES. 



YELLOW-SHANKS SNIPE. 



[Plate L VIII. Fig. 4.] 



JJrct. Zool.p. 463, No. 878. TURT. Syst . 395. PEALR'S Museum, 

 JVo. 3938.* 



OF this species I have but little to say. It inhabits our sea- 

 coasts, and salt marshes, during summer; frequents the flats at 

 low water, and seems particularly fond of walking among the 

 mud, where it doubtless finds its favourite food in abundance. 

 Having never met with its nest, nor with any person acquaint- 

 ed with its particular place or manner of breeding, I must re- 

 serve these matters for further observation. It is a plentiful 

 species, and great numbers are brought to market in Boston, 

 New York, and Philadelphia, particularly in autumn. Though 

 these birds do not often penetrate far inland, yet on the fifth of 

 September I shot several dozens of them in the meadows of 

 Schuylkill, below Philadelphia. There had been a violent north- 

 east storm a day or two previous, and a large flock of these, ac- 

 companied by several species of Tringa, and a vast number of 

 the Short-tailed Tern, appeared at once among the meadows. 

 As a bird for the table the Yellow-shanks, when fat, is in con- 

 siderable repute. Its chief residence is in the vicinity of the sea, 

 where there are extensive mud-flats. It has a sharp whistle, of 

 three or four notes, when about to take wing, and when flying. 

 These birds may be shot down with great facility, if the sports- 

 man, after the first discharge, will only lie close, and permit 

 the wounded birds to flutter about without picking them up; the 



* GMF.L. Syst. i, p. G59, No. 31. LATH. Syn. nr, p. 152, No. 21. IniL Om. 

 p. 723, No. 29. 

 VOL. III. R 



