WESTERN SOLITABY SANDPIPEB 411 



occasionally placed where it will receive the protection of a small 

 bush or clump of grass. It is placed either in a rather dry situation 

 or near or in a marsh in the vicinity of water (Baird, Brewer and 

 Eidgway, 1884, I, p. 277). 



The eggs are usually four, pear-shaped, and measure in inches, 

 1.65 by 1.14. The ground-color ranges from clay, buff or cream color 

 through light drab to light brown. The superficial markings are bold 

 and heavy, consisting of chocolate, umber-brown and blackish and are 

 distributed chiefly about the larger end of the egg. The grayish 

 deeper markings are also, numerous and noticeable (Davie, 1889, pp. 

 120-121). 



In the Kowak Valley of northern Alaska, Grinnell (1900, p. 26) 

 observed the arrival of this species May 19, 1899. ". . . As one 

 approached their domains the Yellow-legs would fly to meet him, 

 uttering prolonged, monotonous cries. Besides these notes of alarm 

 the males had a full, melodious warble, sung for minutes at a time 

 as they flew slowly about overhead. Their favorite haunts appeared 

 to be the meadows lying between strips of timber, especially if there 

 was a shallow lake or pond in the vicinity." 



Males often perch in trees during the nesting season, as do Wilson 

 Snipe and Greater Yellow-legs. After the young are hatched both 

 parents will pass from tree to tree until they are several hundred 

 yards from the nest, in their efforts to lead away an intruder. ' ' The 

 young, even when just hatched, run and hide in the short grass, so as 

 to make it difficult to flnd them, the parents, in the meanwhile, flying 

 and screaming in the air above" (Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway, loc. 

 cit.). 



The food of the Lesser Yellow-legs consists of insects, Crustacea, 

 small mollusks, worms, and small fish. Its flesh is considered to be of 

 second class among the shore birds, not ranking with that of the Wil- 

 son Snipe or Knot as regards flavor. From the limited numbers 

 occurring in California during the many years in which ornithological 

 work has been carried on, it may be inferred that the species never 

 has been and never will be an important game bird within the state. 



Western Solitary Sandpiper 



Helodromas solitarius cinnamomeus (Brewster) 



Other names — Solitary Tattler; Totanus solitarius; Totanus solitarius cinna- 

 momeus; ShyacopMlus solitarius. 



Description — Adults, both sexes, at all seasons: Top of head and hind neck 

 dark brown, with sparse streaking of white; sides of head and neck, white, 

 thickly but narrowly streaked with dark brown; eyelids white; chin white; 

 bill "greenish black"; iris "brown" (Audubon, 1842, V, p. 312, for the east- 



