250 
NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 
THE VARIED TATLER. 
Totanus melanoleucus. 
PLATE xcrv. FIG. 212. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Scolopax melanoleuca, Gmelin. Spotted Snipe , Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 467. 
S. vocifera, Telltale Godwit. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 7, p. 57, fig. 5. 
Totanus melanoleucus , Vieillot. Ord, reprint of Wilson, p. 61. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol. 2, p.324. 
T. vociferus. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 389. Nuttall, Manual Orn. Vol. 2, p. 148. 
T. id. Audobon, B. of A. Vol. 5, p. 316, pi. 345. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 252. 
Characteristics. Ashy brown, spotted with black and white: rump white. Tail white, 
barred with brown : legs yellow. Bill entirely blackish. Length, 14*0. 
Description. Bill slender, straight, flexible, drooping at the tip, and 2 - l long. Tibia 
bare for half its length. Tail irregularly even. Hind toe considerably elevated : a short 
sinuate web between the outer and middle toes. Tertiaries emarginate. 
Color. Above blackish brown, margined with grey. Head and neck streaked with brown 
and grey. Quills plain brownish black ; the shaft of the first white. Tail white, with from 
six to eight angular brown bars. Beneath, the chin and upper part of the throat soiled white : 
neck streaked with dusky brown. Abdomen white, with distant brown spots. Flanks, axil- 
laries and under tail-coverts with angular brown bars. Winter, ash brown above ; breast 
minutely mottled with zigzag brown lines. Bill black : legs bright yellow. 
Length, 13'5 —I4 - 5. 
This bird is the Big Yellow-leg, or Winter Yellow-leg of our sportsmen. It appears 
with us about the middle of May, and breeds from New-Jersey northwardly. Its principal 
food consists of marsh insects, small shrimps, etc. It breeds chiefly in high latitudes, and 
returns to this State about the end of August, where many remain (if the season is open) 
until December. It extends through the interior to the plains of Missouri. Its geographical 
range is from the Antilles to 60° north. 
