NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 145 



la intensity of shade, togetlier with obscure shell-markings of lilac. The markings 

 are over the entire surface, but more numerous at the larger end; three or four Ik 

 number; size 1.43x1.20. 



255. YELLOW-LEGS. Totanus fimipes (Gmel.) Geog. Dist.— North America. 



The Common Yellow-legs.or Lesser Tell-tale, is found throughout North Ameri- 

 ca. It breeds from Northern United States northward, extending its migrations to 

 the Artie regions. It winters in the Southern States and southward. In some locali- 

 ties during the migrations it is more abundant than the Greater Tattler, and its 

 general habits and characteristics are the same; its cries are clearer and not so loud. 

 It is fond of wading about in pools of water seeking food, which consists of larvae 

 of insects and small crustaceans. The Lesser Yellow-shanks is known to breed in 

 Alaska, at the mouth of the Porcupine River, which empties into the Yukon. It 

 doubtless breeds in all the region between Fort Selkirk and Fort Lake, and abund- 

 antly in the MacFarlane and Anderson River regions. The nests were mere de- 

 pressions in the ground, without any lining; sometimes they were placed at the foot 

 of a bush, with a scanty lining of withered leaves. The eggs were usually four. 

 The bird is reported as doubtless breeding in Illinois and other regions farther 

 south than those just mentioned. There is no doubt that a few of the Lesser Yellow- 

 legs breed in Central Ohio. In referring to my notes I find that a sportsman brought 

 me a male bird on the 28th of June, 1886. This season (June 14, 1888) Mr. Robert 

 Hedden shot a specimen, which proved to be a female, the skin of which is now in 

 my cabiniBt. From this bird I took a well-formed egg, and the ovaries contained 

 several others in different stages of development. The breast of this specimen was 

 quite bare of feathers, indicating that it was engaged in the duties of incubation. 

 The bird was sitting on the top rail of a fence when killed, and no others were noticed 

 In the vicinity. The eggs of the Yellow-legs are of a light drab, or even vary to clSy, 

 huffy or cream color, sometimes light brown; the markings are bold and heavy, with 

 great diversity of heavily splashed blotches of chocolate, umber-brown and blackish, 

 these being chiefly at the larger end, and sometimes confluent. Paler shell-markings 

 are also numerous and noticeable; pointedly pyritorm in shape; three or four in 

 number; sizes range from 1.58 to 1.78 long by about 1.16 broad. 



256. SOLITARY SANDPIPER. Totanus soUtarius (Wils.) Geog. Dist.— North 

 America, breeding in Northern United States, northward; migrating southward to 

 Northern South America. 



The Solitary Tattler, or the American Green Sandpiper, is found throughout the 

 entire North America; breeds in Northern United States and northward, and prob- 

 ably throughout most of its United States range. Winters chiefly in Mexico, Central 

 and South America and in the West Indies. It 

 has the same characteristic habits of the Green 

 Sandpiper of Europe — always seen near water, 

 during the migrations, on the borders of lakes, 

 ponds and rivers, or seeking its food, which con- 

 sists chiefly of worms in the soft loamy soil of 

 marshes. The Solitary Sandpiper is well named, 

 when its personal habits or the localities which 

 it frequents are considered. It is found; except 

 during and shortly after the breeding season, 

 about small ponds in woods, remote shaded 

 ditches or small brooks, just such localities as 

 are frequented by the Water Thrush, and its 

 alarm note is very similar to that species, but is 

 shriller and louder and is sounded while on the 

 wing in its rapid flight. Although common, the 



256. Solitary Sandpiper. 

 11 



