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Winter plumage, the upper parts lighter — larger portion of the 

 breast and abdomen white ; sides of the body barred with dusky. 

 Length fourteen inches, wing seven and a quarter. 



This species — with us not as numerous as the former — is known 

 to the gunners by the name of Greater Yellow-shanks. It arrives 

 on Long Island about two weeks earlier than the preceding, like 

 which, its visit in the spring is of short duration. It has an attach- 

 ment for the muddy shores of creeks and ponds — where it collects 

 its food, and like many other species of shore birds, seems to have 

 a fondness for the spawn of the King-crab or " Horse-foot." It 

 goes to the North and returns in the latter part of August, and re- 

 mains until cold weather. On the meadows, in the vicinity of 

 Oyster Pond, I have shot them late in November. In autumn they 

 get in fine condition, and their flesh is at that season well flavored. 

 They do not usually associate in large flocks, generally roving 

 about in parties of from five to twelve. Its voice is much stronger 

 than that of the former, and consists of fewer notes, which by im- 

 itating, it obeys. It is more suspicious than the Lesser Yellow- 

 shanks, though if the gunner lies close, it approaches the decoys 

 without much hesitation. 



It walks over its feeding grounds with a graceful carriage, and 

 collects its food in an elegant and easy manner. It is capable of 

 rapid flight, and at times mounts high in the air, from which eleva- 

 tion its loud, clear, and familiar notes are often heard. 



Its habits are similar to the preceding, to which it bears a great 

 resemblance in markings. On the coast of New Jersey it is com- 

 mon, and I have been informed that a few breed there. On Long 

 Island I can find no trace of its having been found breeding, and I 

 have no recollection of meeting with it there during the month of 

 June, or early part of July ; in the latter part of the last named 

 month I have met with it, but that period is unusually early, as it 

 generally returns to us from the North, from two to three weeks 

 later than the Lesser Yellow-shanks. 



