522 THE SOLITARY SANDPIPER. 



The most prominent characteristic of these birds, as they flutter about 

 from place to place, or rise for extended flight, is the tail appearing almost 

 white, — for the cross-barring of the tail-feathers, while apparent enough in the 

 hand, is scarcely noticeable at a distance. Upon alighting the bird remains 

 a moment with wings held daintily aloft, and if reassured, folds them quietly, 

 one at a time, like a yacht hauling in sail, or simultaneously, as the case may 

 be. On foot it is often restless, bobbing or teetering with nervous appre- 

 hension, and serving frequent notice of its readiness for departure. As tho 

 conscious, however, of its own preparedness, it will often suffer a much nearer 

 approach than most other species of waders. 



In a company which included shore birds of eleven kinds, I once saw 

 a Lesser Tattler which was obliged to hop about upon one leg, for the other 

 dangled helpless in the air. The bird had evidently been for some time in 

 this plight, for it balanced with ease, and stooped not ungracefully to secure 

 food from the surface of the mud ; so that one entertained the hope that his one 

 yellow leg might serve him for a lifetime. 



The notes of the Yellow-legs are much like those of the preceding species, 

 but are lighter in character. 



D. G. Elliot^ states without comment, that this species breeds in Illinois 

 and Ohio, but no records of its breeding are known to us, nor had it been 

 reported in Dr. Wheaton's time. 



No. 243. 



SOLITARY SANDPIPER. 



A. O. U. No. 256. Helodromas solitarius (Wils.). 



Description. — Adult in summer : Above, olive-brown or fuscous, with a faint 

 greenish tinge, blackening on wings ; the head and neck finely streaked, and the 

 back, etc., distinctly speckled with white; upper tail-coverts dusky, the lateral 

 feathers spotted or barred with white ; central tail-feathers dusky, spotted on edges 

 with white; the remaining feathers of tail white, with heavy dusky bars; under 

 parts white, the sides of neck and breast and across chest streaked with fuscous ; 

 axillars prominent white, barred with dusky; bill blackish; feet and legs dull 

 greenish black. Winter plumage : Colors more blended ; olivaceous tinge of upper 

 parts nearly wanting; white spotting less pure; head and neck less distinctly 

 streaked ; fore-neck and sides of breast heavily tinged or indistinctly clouded rather 

 than streaked with light grayish brown. Immature: Like adult in winter, but 

 colors still more blended ; no streakings on head and neck ; spotting of back bufify. 

 Length 7.50-8.50 (190.5-215.9) ; av. of six Columbus specimens: wing 5.04.(128.) ; 

 tail 2.08 (52.8) ; bill 1.13 (28.7) ; tarsus 1.18 (30.). 



Recognition Marks. — Chewink size ; olive-brown above with white speckling. 

 To be carefully distinguished from Actitis macularia by its somewhat larger size 



1 "North American Shore Birds," (published by Francis P. Harper, New York) p. 119. 



