404 ARMSTRONG’S YELLOW-SHANKS. 
extensive sand and mud flats fully exposed to the sea. 1 have 
never seen a single specimen on the numerous smaller flats 
forming the banks of the rivers and creeks in the vicinity 
of these localities, and where its near allies, the Green and Red- 
Shanks, are so abundant. 
“ T have never seen them solitary ;they appear to seek their 
food sometimes in couples, but more usually in small parties 
of 3or4o0r5,and are often associated with large flocks of 
Stints or Green-Shanks, with whom however, they do not appear 
to mingle. They are much more wary than their companions, 
and it requires much caution to get within shooting distance 
of them. They are always the first to rise, so that in order to 
obtain specimens, I made it a rule to fire at the first birds of 
the flock that rose. 
“In other respects their habits are similar to those of the 
other ‘S/anks, Green, Red and Yellow; but I have often noticed 
that they like to dabble with their bills in the mud or sand 
like ducks in a puddle of water. 
“ The stomachs of some I killed contained small mud-fish 
and crustacea, while those of others were crammed with larve 
and small molluscs.” 
I only know of eight specimens of this bird, four in our 
museum and three in that of Trinity College, Dublin, all shot 
and preserved by Dr. Amrstrong, and one mutilated specimen 
bought in the Calcutta market. 
THE FOLLOWING are the dimensions of six specimens, five 
recorded by Dr. Armstrong ; one by myself:— 
g g ? g ro} 2 
Length ads Bis ... | 12°45 | 13°2 | 32.9 | FI*75 |} 12°16] —* 
Expanse otic un 2 $230. | 23°25 | -22:3°|- 2055 | 2z:0n eee 
Wing Sie sae. ae set, 1039 73| Fol 6:77 | 7 os tee 
Tail from vent... ree GSC 385) 3'0 30! 2'09 2'8 29 
Tarsus se A Jo E79 | (1 'S5 71) 65. 172s ray 
Bare portion of tibia bat {| — | 0°95 | 0°86] — — | 089 
Mid-toe and claw ee oul WA Gal kas 14 m6 | roi | 147 
Hind-toe and claw ae ee Oras | Os52 O°5 0'4 | 0°45 | 0°47 
Bill from gape... 500 Sth fem 2°5 22 | 2°23 \.2°45 
Napa LON Cs feioe ae see eee Sa ea ako 220 23); —* 
Weight 50% 565 ef — — — — |3°30zs. 
I am not sure that these have all been correctly sexed, if 
so, the fourth must have been a young bird, as, judging from the 
analogy of the Green-Shanks, in the adults, the males should 
be appreciably larger than the females. 
The irides are deep brown; the bill is dusky on the ter- 
minal half, blackish towards the tip; the basal half is paler, 
varying from yellowish horny to greenish plumbeous, growing 
* Bill broken off short at base ; length from forehead to tip of tail, 10°85. 
+ All the earlier primaries pulled out. 
