BAY-BIRDS. 165 



on white ground; abdomen white; tail-coverts 

 white, barred with brown; tail greyish-brown, 

 barred with darker brown the outer two feathers 

 lighter ; rump brown ; fore part of the back and 

 wing-coverts brown, largely spotted with dull white ; 

 primaries blackish-brown, broadly banded with 

 white ; secondaries white. Length fifteen inches 

 and a half, wing eight." Giraud. 



YELPEB. 



Big Yellow-LegsGreater Yellow-Shanks Tell-tale Tatler. 

 Totanus Vociferus, Wils. 



This is one of the most numerous of the bay- 

 birds, and among the most highly prized for its 

 sport-conferring properties. It stools well, although 

 occasionally suspicious, and will often drop like a 

 stone from the clouds, where it is fond of flying, upon 

 receiving a response to its strong, clear, and easily 

 imitated cry. It will also frequently come within 

 shot in the open, when the sportsman is unaided by 

 his decoys. Its flight is uneven, being often slow 

 when approaching or pausing over the stools, and 

 then exceedingly rapid and irregular when alarmed ; 

 and if there are no stools to make the Yelper hesi- 

 tate, it has a bobbing motion, as if searching for the 

 origin of the call, that makes it exceedingly difficult 

 to kill. Moreover, it is vigorous, and will carry off 

 much shot, as in fact is the habit with all the shore- 

 birds, and is tough and sedgy on the table. 



