1S4 BIRDS 



easy and graceful manner. Its grace and dignity well 

 merit the saying that " It is one of the most beautiful of 

 the birds sought by the sportsman." 



THE GREATER YELLOW-LEGS* 



No bird bears a more appropriate name than does this 

 wader with its long yellow legs. In many localities, 

 Greater Yellow-shanks is the name by which it is com- 

 monly known, and who that is acquainted with it does not 

 recognize that the name Tell-tale is also very characteristic 

 of the bird's habits? When flushed, the Yellow-legs excit- 

 edly rise from their feeding grounds, uttering loud whis- 

 tling notes which cannot well be expressed in syllables, but 

 are easily imitated by the hunter. 



None of the waders is more graceful than the Greater 

 Yellow-legs. They frequent wateiy bogs and the muddy 

 margins of streams. There they search for their food of 

 insect larvae, small crustaceans and fish, worms, and small 

 mollusks, frequently wading in water deep enough to reach 

 more than half way up to their bodies. In flying, their 

 necks and legs are extended to their full length. Their 

 flight is swift, and frequently they rise to great heights. 

 When about to alight, they circle several times over the 

 locality before settling. When they do alight, they stand 

 for a few moments with their wings held over the body and 

 pointing directly upward. It has been suggested that this 

 habit arises from a desire to test the firmness of the soft 

 soil before they bear their weight upon it. When wading, 

 they move about in a quick and apparently excited man- 



