BIRDS FOUND ALONG THE BEACHES 71 



259. WANDERING TATTLER. — Heteractitis incana. 



Family : The Snipes and Sandpipers. 



Length: 10.60-11.50. 



Adults in Sv/mmer : Upper parts uniform slate-color ; under parts barred 



with dark gray and white ; throat white, spotted witli dusky ; lower 



belly white. 

 Adults m Winter : Upper parts, sides, and breast gray ; middle of belly 



and throat white. 

 Young: Similar to winter adults, but feathers of wings and back marked 



with pure white. 

 Geographical Distribution : Pacific coast of North America from Alaska 



to Lower California, west to Hawaiian Islands and Kamtchatka. 

 Breeding Range : From Vancouver Island northward to valley of Yukon 



River. 

 "Nest and Eggs apparently not recorded: but young birds taken by 



Macoun on west coast of Vancouver Island " (F. M. Bailey). 



The Wandering Tattler is well named, for it remains 

 in one locality only during the nesting season, which is 

 from May 20 to July 1 in Alaska. Its food consists 

 of raollusks and crustaceans, and for that reason it is 

 seldom found at any great distance from the shore. 

 Its note is a clear, flute-like whistle, not unlike that 

 of the greater yellow-legs, and is translated by one ob- 

 server as " tu-tu-tu-tu." Like its larger relative, it is 

 a stately little bird, graceful whetfher on land or in the 

 air. It is said to give warning of the approach of dan- 

 ger by a shriller whistle than its customary sweet call, 

 and consequently is berated by sportsmen. 



