302 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



this species along our coast presents some extreme variations 

 in numbers from year to year. Evidently the large migration 

 in fall which goes south by sea does not come on to the coast 

 of Massachusetts unless driven there by strong adverse winds 

 or storms. Great numbers of these birds are seen in flight, 

 miles at sea, and they have been reported as resting on the 

 water at times. This is one of the species that now comes to 

 Cape Cod in large numbers on some of the spring flights. The 

 inaccessibility of the breeding grounds of this bird and the 

 protection that it receives on Anticosti Island have done 

 much to keep up the numbers of those which migrate through 

 New England. 



The Winter Yellow-legs is a bird of the meadow, marsh and 

 the muddy shores of fresh-water streams and ponds. When 

 alighting it often raises its wings and folds them slowly, then 

 nods its head, teetering its whole body up and down and utter- 

 ing its sweet whistling cries. The flocks fly compactly, and, 

 like many other shore birds, they turn, and rise or fall, as if 

 at the word of command. 



In spring at low tide this bird frequents the pools and 

 streams in the salt marshes of Cape Cod, where it picks up 

 little minnows and other aquatic forms of life. It seems to be 

 very fond of both land and water insects, and must do con- 

 siderable good as an insect eater. 



