395 



TOTANUS FLAVIPES (VIEILL). 

 YELLOW LEGS : LESSER YELLOW SHANKS. 



Specific Character. Very similar to T. melanoleucus, but smaller and more 

 slender. Bill rather longer than head, straight, slender, rather compressed ; wing,long, 

 pointed ; tail, short ; legs, long, lower half of tibia naked ; toes, moderate, slender 

 margined; the outer and middle united at the base; above ashy, mixed with 

 ragged blotches of black, this having a tendency to form regular transverse bars 

 on the secondaries and scapulars. Crown and nape with longitudinal streaks of black 

 on a grayish white ground. Upper tail coverts pure white with transverse bars 

 of dusky ; tail, white ; with middle feathers ashy, and all with transverse rather 

 narrower bars of ash. Primaries and their coverts, plain dusky black. Lower 

 parts, white ; the juoulum and breast densely streaked with blackish, and the 

 sides marked with more transverse markings of the same color. 



Total length about 10.50 inches; extent, 20.00; wing, 5.50; culmen, 1.40; 

 tarsus, 2.00 ; bill, black ; iris dark brown ; legs and feet, bright yellow. 



Habitat. The whole of America, breeding in the sub-Arctic regions, migrat- 

 ing south to Buenos Ayres and Chili. This well known " Yellow-legs " is very 

 common throughout Ontario during its spring and fall migrations, being observed 

 on the muddy flats and marshy shores of our rivers and inlets. It lives on larvae 

 &nd small crustaceans, upon which it becomes very fat ; and as it is often shot 

 with snipe, it is considered equally good for the table. It passes north during 

 April or early in May, and returns during September. Like the greater " Yellow- 

 legs," it is fond of wading about in pools or the edge of streams for its food, some- 

 times going completely under the water for a moment. 



