scolopacid^:— the snipe family. 59 



Genus TOTANUS Bechstein. 

 Subgenus Totamis. 



Totanus Bbchst. Orn. Tasohenb. 1803, 282. Type, Scolopax totanus Linn. 



Chab. Bill usually slender, and slightly upturned terminally, the lateral groove ol the 

 maxilla extending about half way to the tip. No web between the middle and inner toes. 

 Tarsus about twice as long as the middle toe. 



The subpjenus Totarms is very closely allied to Helod/romas 

 (see page 62), but differs as follows: 



Totanus. Middle toe not more than halt as long as the tarsus; bill decidedly shorter 

 than tarsus. 



HelodromaB. Mddle toe nearly or auite as long as the tarsus ; bill longer than tarsus. 



The two North American species of Totamtm, while resembling 

 each other minutely in coloration, are very different in size and 

 proportions, as the following comparative measurements will 

 show: 



1. T. melanolenons. Size large— wing more than 7 inches. Terminal half ol bill slightly 

 recurved. Wing, 7.40-8.00; oulmen, 2.05-2.40; tarsus, 2.35-2.70; middle toe, 1.25-1.50. 



2. T.flaTipes. Size small— wing less than 7 inches. Terminalhallof billnotperceptibly 

 recurved. Wing, 6.10-6.65; cuhnen, 1.30-1.55; tarsus, 2.00-2.15; middle toe, 1.00-1.15. 



Tetanus melanoleucus (Gmel.) 



GBEATEB YELLOW-LEOS. 



Popular synonyms. Big Yellow-legs; Stone Snipe; Tell-tale; Big Cucu (Plymouth Bay, 

 Mass.); Yelper. 



Scolopax melanoleuoa Gmel. S. N. ed. IS, i, 1788, 659. 

 Totanus melanoleucus Vietll. Nouv. Diet, vi, 1816, 398.— AUD. Orn. Biog. iv, 1838, 68, pi. 



308.— COUBS, Key, 1872, 268; Check List, 1874, No. 432; 2d ed. 1882, No. 633; B. N. W. 



1874, 496.-ElbGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 548; Man. N. Am. B. 1887, 168.-B. B. & B. 



Water B. N. Am. i, 1884, 269.-A. O. U. Cheek List, 1886. No. 254. 

 Gambetta melanoleuoa Bonap, 1856.— Gabs. iuBaird's B. N. Am. 1858, 731.— Baibd, Cat. N. 



Am. B. No. 539, 

 Scolopax vociferus Wms. Am. Orn. vii, 1813, 57, pi. 58, flg. 5. 

 Totanus vociferus Vibill. 1816.— 8w. & BlOH. F. B.-A. ii, 1831, 389.— AuD. Synop, 1839, 244; 



B. Am. V, 1842, 316, pi. .S45. 



Hab. America in general, but breeding only in cold-temperate and subarctic climates 

 of the northern continent; in winter, south to Chili and Argentine EepubUc. 



8p. Chab. Adult, summer plumage: Above, variegated with slaie-black, pale gray,and 

 white, the former predominating, the latter in the form of spots along the edge of the feath- 

 ers, including the wing-coverts and the tertials ; crown and hind neck grayish white, widely 

 streaked with dusky; upper tail-coverts white, irregularly barred with dusky; primaries 

 plain blackish slate; tail white, all the feathers barred with dusky, the middle feathers 

 grayish, barred with dusky, the latter sometimes obsolete; Head, neck, and lower parts 



