566 THE SOLITARY SANDPIPER. 



centre of its abundance in summer, and its main breeding-grounds are, apparently, the Northern 

 Mississippi and Eastern Missouri regions, and thence to Saskatchewan ; for, unlike its relative, 

 the Hudsonian God wit, it does not proceed very far north to breed. It breeds in Iowa, and 

 Minnesota, and Eastern Dakota. I found it on the plains, feeding with long-billed curlews, 

 and great numbers of Bartram's sandpipers. In its habits at this season it more nearly resem- 

 bles the curlews. On intrusion near the nest, the birds mount in the air with loud, piercing 

 cries, hovering slowly around with laboied flight in evident distress, and apjjroaching some- 

 times within a few feet of the observer. 



Gunners call this bird Strait-billed Curlew, and often Red Curlew. It is shy and cautious, 

 yet strongly attached to each other. AVhen one is wounded, the whole flock is arrested in 

 flight, and they hover over the unfortunate bird. Like the curlew, this liird can be called by 

 imitating its voice. A slight difl'erence in marldiig distinguishes the sexes. The male bird 

 is nineteen inches long, and thirty-four in extent of wing. The bill is nearly six inches in 

 length ; unlike that of the curlew, it is nearly straight. 



A species is found on the western, or Pacific coast, called the Limosa lapponica. 



The HuDSOJS'iAN Godwit {Limosa 7i(Bmastica) inhabits eastern North America, the West 

 Indies, and South America. It is rare along the Atlantic coast. This bird is called Black-tail 

 Godwit in some quarters, though the following is now regarded as the true one of that name 

 — Limosa cEgocepJiala. 



The Greater Yellow Shanks, or Tell-tale {Totanus melnnoleucus), called also 

 Tattler, is an exclusively American bird, found in all pai'ts of this continent. It is abundant 

 in winter and during the migrating season. Breeds mostly in high latitudes. Wherever 

 there is water in the Missouri region these birds abound. In some places they are the most 

 numerous of all the waders. 



The term Tell-tide was applied to tliis bird from the fact that it is so noisy. Its whistle, 

 which consists of four notes I'apidly repeated, is so loud, shrill, and alarming, as instantly to 

 arouse every duck within its hearing, and thus disappoint the eager exjjectations of the marks- 

 man. The bird arrives on our coast in April, breeds in the marshes, and continues untU 

 November, about the middle of which month it generally moves ofl' to the South. 



The Tell-tale seldom flies in large flocks, at least during the summer. On the least appear- 

 ance, it utters its shrill whistle and mounts on wng, generally accompanied by all the feath- 

 ered tribe within hearing. It sometimes rises to a great lieiglit in the air, and can be distinctly 

 heard when it cannot be seen. 



The Tell-tale is fourteen inches in lengtli, and twenty-five inches in extent of wing. 



Yellow-legs, or Lesser Yellow Shanks {Totanus Jlavipes). The Tuthitat of this 

 species is the whole of the AVestern hemisphere. Its breeding-places are from the northern 

 States, northward. Many winter in the Southern States. It is found in Europe as a straggler. 

 The Yellow-legs associates with the preceding in equal abundance. East of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains it is abundant, and generally distribiited, but on the western slope very sparingly. 

 Great nuinbers are l^rought into the marlsiets of our large to\vns, particularly in autumn. Its 

 flesh is in great favor. Its voice is a sliarp whistle of three or four notes, \\lien al>out to take 

 wing and when flying. Tlie length of this bird is ten inches ; extent of wing twenty. The 

 bill is slender and straight, about an inch and a half loun'. Tlie female is closely like the male. 



The Solitary Sandpiper {Rliyacopliilus soUtarius), called also Wood Tattler. This is 

 an American species, confined to the Western hemis])liere. It is accidental in Europe. It 

 breeds in the nortliern ])art of the United States and nortliward. It is abundant, and migra- 

 tory, wintering quite within the tropics. 



Br. Cones says : "About Washington, D. C, it is very common indeed at certain seasons. 

 It arrives late in April, and for two weeks or so is to be found in all suitable situations ; then 

 none are to be seen, excejit a few straggling young, just at the end of summer, until late in 



