70 WATER BIRDS 



portion near the coast throughout the winter, and, doubt- 

 less, a few breed in the more northern Sierra Nevada 

 district, though I am unable to find any authoritative 

 breeding record. My own record shows that none were 

 seen by me after May 9, although a search and lookout 

 were maintained. They are conspicuous birds, and not 

 easily mistaken for others of their family. The white 

 tail and rump are distinguishing marks, particularly in 

 flight. This bird is the sentinel of the game-birds, 

 giving warning of the approach of the hunter in loud, 

 whistling notes repeated rapidly ; hence its names " Tell- 

 tale " and " Long-legged Tattler." Mr. Chapman writes 

 of it delightfully as follows : 



" Few birds are flying ; lulled by the lap, lap of the 

 water, I have almost fallen asleep, when from far up 

 in the gray sky comes a soft when, wheu, wheu. I 

 respond quickly, and lying on my back, look eagerly 

 upward. Not a bird can be seen, but the questioning 

 call grows stronger, and is repeated more frequently. 

 Finally I distinguish five or six black points sailing in 

 narrow circles so high that I can scarcely believe they 

 are the birds I hear. But no bar or shoal breaks the 

 sound-waves. The birds grow larger, and widening cir- 

 cles sweep earthward. Their soft whistle has a plaintive; 

 tone ; their long bills turn inquiringly from side to side. 

 The stolid decoys give no response, they repel rather 

 than encourage ; but the whistling continues, and with 

 murmured notes of interrogation, the deluded birds wheel 

 over them, to find too late that they have blundered." 



