270 



PR^COCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



Hab. America in general, but breeding only in cold-temperate and subarctic climates of the 

 northern continent ; in winter, south to Chili and Buenos Ayres. 



Sp. Char. Adult, sumiaer plumage : Aljove, variegated with slate-black, pale gray, and white, 

 the former predominating, the latter in the form of spots along the edge of the feathers, including 

 the wing-coverts and tertials ; crown and nape grayish white, widely streaked with dusky ; upper 

 tail-coverts white, irregularly barred with the same ; primaries plain blackish slate ; tail white, all 

 the feathers barred with dusky, the middle feathers grayish, barred with dusky, the latter some- 



times obsolete. Head, neck, and lower parts white, only the abdomen and throat immaculate ; 

 lores, cheeks, malar region, auriculars, and neck (all round), streaked with dusky ; breast, sides, 

 and flanks, barred or transversely spotted with dusky, the bars more sagittate on the crissum. 

 Winter plwiMfjc : Above, rather light ash-gray, without the black, but with the white spotting of 

 the sumnrer dress ; foreneck and jugulum more narrowly streaked ; breast nearly or quite innnacu- 

 late ; and sides and flanks faintly and irregularly marked with gi'ayish. Yomuj, first plumage : 

 Sindlar to the winter dress, but darker and more brownish above, the white spotting tinged with 

 light brownish Inift' ; lower parts similar. Bill black ; iris brown ; legs and feet deep yellow 

 (tinged with olive in young). 



Total length, about 14 inches ; wing, 7. .50-7. 75 ; culnien, i.-ZO-'A.'iO ; tarsus, :i.. 50-2. 75 ; middle 

 toe, 1.35-1.50. 



In nearly or quite all parts of the United States the " Tell-tale Tattler," as this 

 bird is sometimes called by sportsmen, is known only as a migratory vi.sitant. "Wilson 

 speaks of its arriving in the Middle States in April, and of its remaining there until 

 September, and breeding in the marshes. He describes the nest and eggs only from 

 report. In all this he was undotibtedly misinformed ; at least it is not now known 

 to remain on any portion of our sea-coast during the summer, and its nest and eggs 

 are still unknown. Mr. Boardman informs me that this bird is found about Calais 

 early in sttmmer, and it is possible that a few may remain and breed ; but this is at 

 best very doubtful. It is much the most abundant in the spring and fall. 



In Southern Wisconsin, as we are informed by Mr. Kumlien, the "Winter Yellow"- 

 leg, known there as the " Tell-tale," arrives on the borders of Lake Koskonong in 

 April, and is one of the last birds to leave in the fall. Stragglers are found along the 

 shore throughout the summer. Dr. Hoy, in his " List of the Birds of W-'isconsin," 

 states that it nests in all the large marshes of that State. There being very large 

 ones on the borders of Lake Koskonong, this bird may possibly breed among 

 them ; but Mr. Kumlien does not think so, as he has not only never noticed it doing 

 so, but has never even found any birds young enough to justify the belief that they 



