See 
496 TELL-TALE GODWIT, OR SNIPE. 
and stigmatized with the names of the Greater and Lesser Tell-Tale, 
for their faithful vigilance in alarming the Ducks with their loud and 
shrill whistle, on the first glimpse of the gunner’s approach. Of the 
two, the present species is by far the most watchful; and its whistle, 
which consists of four notes rapidly repeated, is so loud, shrill, and 
alarming, as instantly to arouse every Duck within its hearing, and thus 
disappoints the eager expectations of the marksman. Yet the cunning 
and experience of the latter are frequently more than a match for all 
of them; and, before the poor Tell-Tale is aware, his warning voice is 
hashed forever, and his dead body mingled with those of his associates. 
This bird arrives on our coast early in April, brceds in the marshes, 
and continues unti] November, about the middle of which month it 
generally moves off to the south. The nest, I have been informed, is 
built in a tuft of thick grass, generally on the borders of a bog or mo- 
rass. The female, it is said, lays four eggs, of a dingy white, irrecu- 
larly marked with black. ; 
These birds appear to be unknown in Europe. They are simply 
mentioned by Mr. Pennant as having been observed in autumn, feeding 
on the sands on the lower part of Chatteaux Bay, continually nodding 
their heads; and were called there Stone Curlews.* 
The Tell-Tale seldom flies in large flocks, at least during summer. 
It delights in watery bogs, and tbe ruddy margins of creeks and in- 
lets; is either seen searching about for food, or standing in a watchful 
posture, alternately raising and lowering the head, and, on the least 
appearance of danger, utters its shrill whistle, and mounts on wing, 
generally accompanied by all the feathered tribes that are near. It 
occasionally penetrates inland along the muddy shores of our large 
rivers, seldom higher than tide water, and then singly and solitary. 
They sometimes rise to a great height in the air, and can be distinctly 
heard when beyond the reach of the eye. In the fall, when they are 
fat, their flesh is highly esteemed, and many of them are brought to 
our markets. The colors and markings of this bird are so like those 
of the preceding, that, unless in point of size, and the particular curva- 
ture of the bill, the description of one might serve for both. 
The Tell-Tale is fourteen inches and a half long, and twenty-five 
inches in extent; the bill is two inches and a quarter long, of a dark 
horn color, and slightly bent upwards ; the space round the eye, chin, 
and throat, pure white; lower part of the neck, pale ashy white, 
speckled with black; general color of the upper parts, an ashy brown, 
thickly spotted with black and dull white, each feather being bordered 
and spotted on the edge with black; wing-quills, black; some of the 
primaries, and all of the secondaries, with their coverts, spotted round 
the margins with black and white ; head and neck above, streaked with 
black and white; belly and vent, pure white ; rump, white, dotted with 
black; tail, also white, barred with brown; the wings, when closed, 
reach beyond the tail; thighs, naked nearly two inches above the 
knees; legs, two inches and three quarters long; feet, four-toed, the 
found on the banks,of rivers and Jakes, or in inland marshes, as upon the shores. 
They are extremely noisy wlien first disturbed; a single nee dual readily gives 
the note of alarm, and, when their nests are approached, they display more of the 
habit of the Plorers.—Ep. 
* Arctic Zoology, p. 468. 
