334 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 
ally common along the coast, has the upper parts varied 
with ashy, black, and reddish; the under parts below the 
breast are white. This color changes in winter, the su- 
perior region being speckled with white and black, and 
the lower with white; the reddish tinge disappears. 
The tattlers make up in numbers what they lack in 
diversity of species, being found all over the Continent. 
Among the best known is the semipalmated tattler, or 
willet (Zotanus semipalmatus), which, in summer, is gray- 
ish above, with black markings, and white below; the 
throat, breast and sides, being streaked with dusky. It 
is devoid of these spots in winter, and presents an ashy- 
gray hue. Being quite large, it is shot by all lovers of 
the gun, but it is not highly appreciated for its gastro- 
nomic qualities. 
The greater telltale, greater yellow-shanks, stone snipe, 
or yellow-legged tattler (Zotanus melanoleucus), is a 
watchful, noisy bird, which seems to have been created 
for the special purpose of making the sportsmen use 
“swear words,” and of calling the attention of all bay~ 
birds to his nefarious designs. One of these spindle- 
shanked creatures will stand motionless and silent until 
the fowler approaches, and then give vent to such a pe- 
culiar cry that it arouses every living bird within hearing 
distance, and causes it to leave for safer quarters. It is 
to the bay birds what the jay is to the denizens of the 
forest, and, like the latter, it seems to rejoice in the dis- 
comtiture of the gunner. Being a frequenter of muddy flats 
and salt-water marshes, its flesh is not considered good, 
hence it is not generally shot for the table. The lesser yel- 
low-legs, or telltale ( 7. flavipes), looks like the preceding in 
everything but size, and isas great a tattler. The solitary 
tattler (7. solitarius) is a lustrous olive-brown above and 
white below; the sides of the head and neck are streaked 
with dusky; and the tail is marked with black and white. 
It is a resident of wet woods and swamps, and one or two 
