THE YELLOW-LEGS. 455 



The Greater Yellow-legs is not common in New England. 

 In fact, it may be considered only as a straggler. 

 Nuttall, in describing its habits, &c., says, 



" The Greater Yellow-shanks, or Telltale, so remarkable for its 

 noise and vigilance, arrives on the coast of the Middle States early 

 in April, and, proceeding principally by an inland route, is seen in 

 abundance as far north as the plains of the Saskatchewan, where, no 

 doubt, in those desolate and secluded marshes, far from the prying 

 eye and persecuting hand of man, the principal part of the species 

 pass the period of reproduction, re-appearing in the cooler parts 

 of the Union towards the close of August : yet so extensive is the 

 breeding range of the Telltale, that many continue to occupy 

 the marshes of the Middle States until the approach of cold 

 weather, in the month of November, breeding in their favorite 

 resorts, on the borders of bogs ; securing the nest in a tuft of rank 

 grass or sedge ; and laying four eggs, of a dingy-white, irregularly 

 marked with spots of dark-brown or black." 



The vociferous vigilance of the Telltale has justly stig- 

 matized him with the present name ; for no sooner does the 

 gunner appear than his loud and shrill whistle of about four 

 rapidly repeated notes is instantly heard, as he mounts on 

 wing, and proves generally so good a warning to all the rest 

 pf his feathered neighbors, and particularly the vigilant ducks, 

 that the whole, to the frequent disappointment of the fowler, 

 at once accompany their faithful and officious sentinel. 



The food of the Telltale is similar to that of our other 

 shore birds. This it obtains by wading in the pools and 

 ditches, which it is almost constantly doing ; it being seldom 

 seen in the grass or running on the beach like the Sand- 

 pipers. 



GAMBETTA FLAVIPES. Bonaparte. 

 The Yellow-legs. 



Scolopax flavipes, Gmelin. Syst. Nat., I. (1788) 659. Wils. Am. Orn., VII. 

 (1813) 55. 



Tolanus flavipes, Audubon. Orn. Biog., III. (1835) 573; V. 586. 75., Birds 

 Am., V. (1842) 313. 



Gambetta jlavipes, Bonaparte. Comptes Rendus (Sept., 1856). 



