

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — TOTANUS. 



271 



weve raised near the place. Late in August this bird begins to gather in Hocks along 

 tlie shores of Lake Koskoiiong, generally in company with the Totanus Jluvipes. 



(»u Long Island, according to Giraud, this species is not so numerous as iXwfluvi- 

 1,1 s. It is tlicre known to tlic Imnturs as the •' Greater Yellowshanka," arriving in 

 A|)ril, about two weeks earlier than the Common Yellowshanks, and, as is the case 

 with the latter, making at tliat season but a very short visit. It appears to prefer 

 tlic shores of muddy j)onds and creeks, where it collects its food, having ai)parently, 

 like many otlier shore-birds, u sjiecial fondness for the spawn of the horse-foot 

 crab. It returns from the nortli in the latter part of August, and renuiins until cold 

 weather. On the meadows in the vicinity of Oyster Pond Mr. (Jiraud has met with 

 this bird in November. In the autunni it is in line condition, and its Hesh is then 

 very finely flavored. It does not generally associati; in large flocks, but roves about 

 in parties of from five to twelve. Its voice is nuich stronger than that of the ffuvipes, 

 and consists of fewer notes, imitations of which it will Idindly follow. Though more 

 sus])icious than the Common Yellowshanks, it can be decoyed if tlie sportsnum is 

 skilful and lies close. This bird is (U'scribedas having a graceful carriage as it walks 

 over the ground, collecting its food in an elegant iind easy manner. It is capable of 

 very rapid flight, and at times mounts high in the air, from wliich elevation its loutl, 

 clear, and familiar notes may often be recognized. In its general habits, as well as 

 in its appearance, it bears a strong resenddance to the ,//af//;t'.s. It is more common 

 (in tlic shores of New Jersey tiian on Long Island, and is said occasionally to breed 

 tlicre; but no good evidence of this has been obtained, and Giraud was unable to find 

 any proof that it ever breeds on Long Island. He never met with it there either in 

 .huic or in .Inly. 



This bird passes north along the coast of Massachusetts about the nuddle of April, 

 the flight lasting until the middle of .May. It returns from the north early in Au- 

 gust, and is two or three weeks in passing south. 



It is found on the Pacific coast as far north as Vancouver Island, where Jlr. H. 

 Browne notes its pn-sence. Dr. Cooiier states that it is common throughout Cali- 

 fcuiiia, being usually found, singly or in small families, about marshes — both fresh 

 and salt — during nearly all the year ; he did not, however, observe any as far to the 

 south, in tluly, as San Pedi'o. One, which he shot at Fort Mojave in January, was 

 of a remarkaldy small size, though a female; and Dr. Cooper thinks it probable that 

 this sniallness is peculiar to all those inhabiting the interior desert regions, and that 

 they may for this reason have been mistaken for the smaller Yellow-legs of the East. 

 Dr. Cooper thinks that this l)ird breeds, without doubt, in Californita, although he did 

 not meet with any of its nests along the coast. In the autumn it is found in smal) 

 families about still waters, feeding on small shells, insects, (U'ustacea, etc. 



Mr. Salvin, who observed this s^iecies in Guatemala, states that, so far as noticed 

 by him, it seemed to be more solitary in its haliits tluin many of the other Waders. 

 Karcly was more than a single individual seen at a time ; and it also appeared to pre- 

 fer the borders of tlie lak(! to the marshy resorts of the other species of Waders. 



It is said by Major Wedderbuvn to visit Hermixda in its southward migrations in 

 the fall. It usually arrives in August, and is more or less common in some seasons. 

 In 1S4S quite a number came as early as the 4th of August, in company with the 

 Jl<a-lp;'x and the smaller Sandpipers. On the 20th of September a large flock was seen 

 moving iu a southeasterly direction. It occasionally remains until the 10th of No- 

 vcnd)er. In only one instance has it been seen there in the sj)ring ; this is said by Mr. 

 Hurdis to have been on the oth of June, 1852, when a single specimen was taken in 

 full spring plumage. 



W 



jiili' 



