258 



lewis's AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



SCOLOPAX FLAVIPES — YELLOW-SHANKS SNIPE; AND SCOLOPAX VOCI- 

 FERUS — TELLTALE SNIPE, GODWIT, OR GREATER YELLOW-SHANKS 

 SNIPE. 



Both these birds are well but not favorably known to the market 

 shooters of Philadelphia and New York, as they are extremely shy 

 and very vigilant, and often give notice, by their shrill whistle, of the 

 approach of the pot-hunter when he would not have been observed 

 by the less wary fowl feeding around. This habit of timely warn- 

 ing their careless companions of the danger that is encompassing 

 them has given rise to their respective appellations of Greater or 

 Lesser Telltale. Notwithstanding their uncommon vigilance, they 

 are, nevertheless, often brought to bag, and in the autumn their 

 flesh is not unfrequently very savory. These birds resemble each 

 other so very much in their general appearance and plumage that 

 the diflference in their size alone is the most distinguishing charac- 

 teristic. 



