SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — TOTANUS. 271 



were raised near the place. Late in August this bird begins to gather in flocks along 

 the shores of Lake Koskoiioug, generally in company with the Totanus flavipes. 



On Long Island, according to Giraud, this species is not so luuuerous as the_/?ayt- 

 pes. It is there known to the hunters as the "Greater Yellowshanks," arriving in 

 April, about two weeks earlier than the Common Yellowshanks, and, as is the case 

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

 the shores of muddy ponds and creeks, where it collects its food, having apparently, 

 like many other .shore-birds, a sjietdal fondness for the spawn of the horse-foot 

 crab. It returns from the north in the latter part of August, and remains until cold 

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

 this bird in November. In the autumn it is iu fine condition, and its flesh is then 

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

 in j)arties of from live to twelve. Its voice is much stronger than that of the flaoipes, 

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

 suspicious than the Common Yellowshanks, it can be decoyed if the sportsman is 

 skilful and lies close. This bird is described as having a graceful carriage as it walks 

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

 very rapid flight, and at times mounts high in the air, from which elevation its loud, 

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

 in its apijearance, it bears a strong resemblance to the flavtpes. It is more common 

 on the shores of New Jersey than on Long Island, and is said occasionally to breed 

 there ; 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 

 dune or in July. 



This bird ]iasses north along the coast of Massachusetts about the middle 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 ]\Ir. E. 

 Browne notes its presence. Dr. Cooper states tluxt it is common throughout Cali- 

 fornia, being usually found, singly or in small families, about nuirshes — both fresh 

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

 south, in July, as San Pedro. One, which he shot at Fort Mojave in January, ^^•as 

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

 this sraallness 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 bird breeds, without doubt, in California, although he did 

 not meet with any of its nests along the coast. In the autumn it is found iu small 

 fanulies about still waters, feeding on .small shells, insects, Crustacea, etc. 



Mr. Salviu, who observed this si)ecies in Guatemala, states that, so far as noticed 

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

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

 fer the borders of the lake to the marshy resorts of the other species of "Waders. 



It is said by Major Wedderburn to visit Bermuda in its southward migrations iu 

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

 In 1848 quite a number came as early as the 4th of August, in company with the 

 flavipes and the smaller Sandpipers. On the 20th of September a large flock was seen 

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

 vember. In only one instance has it been seen there in the spring ; this is saifl by iMr. 

 Hurdis to have been on the 5th of June, 1852, when a single specimen was taken in 

 full sirring plumage. 



