BIRDS FOUND ALONG THE BEACHES 69 



Ing up anything. In California the Sanderling fre- 

 quently remains all winter and adds to the delights 



248. Sanderling. 

 " A game of tag with the ocean." 



of a stroll along the beach. Not especially shy, it will 

 permit one to come within twenty feet of it, and it pays 

 no attention to any observer seated on the sand. 



254. GREATER YELLOW-LEGS. — Totanus melanoleucus. 



Family : The Snipes and Sandpipers. 



Length: 12.00-15.00. 



Adults in Summer : Upper parts black, streaked and spotted with white 



and gray ; tail and upper tail-coverts white, barred with black ; 



middle of belly white ; rest of under parts white, spotted or barred 



with black ; throat streaked light and dark gray. 

 Adults in Winter: Similar, but upper parts dark gray, mottled with 



white ; under parts white, finely speckled with gray on throat and 



upper breast. 

 Young : Similar to winter adults, but white of plumage tinged with 

 ' buffy. 

 Geographical Distribution : North America ; south in winter to South 



America. 

 Breeding Range : From latitude 40° northward. 

 Nest : A shallow, grass-lined depression in the ground. 

 Eggs : 3 or 4 ; muddy buff, marked with dark brown. Size 1.43 X 1.20. 



The Greater Yellow-legs is an abundant migrant 

 throughout California, some remaining in the southern 



