55 



YELLOW-SHANKS SNIPE. 

 SCOLOPAX FLAVIPES. 

 [Plate LVIII.— Fig. 4.] 



Arct. Zool. p. 465, JVo. 878 Turt. Syst. 395. — Pbale's Museum, JV*o. 39.S8. 



OF this species I have but little to say. It inhabits our sea 

 coasts and salt marshes during summer; frequents the flats at low 

 water, and seems particularly fond of walking among the mud, 

 where it doubtless finds its favorite food in abundance. Having 

 never met with its nest, nor with any person acquainted with its 

 particular place or manner of breeding, I must reserve these mat- 

 ters for further observation. It is a plentifid species, and great 

 numbers are brought to market in Boston, New York, and Phila- 

 delphia, particularly in autumn. Tho these birds do not often 

 penetrate far inland, yet on the fifth of September I shot several 

 dozens of them in the meadows of Schuylkill, below Philadelphia. 

 There had been a violent north-east storm a day or two previous, 

 and a large flock of these, accompanied by several species of 

 Tringa, and vast numbers of the Short-tailed Tern, appeared at 

 once among the meadows. As a bird for the table the Yellow- 

 shanks, when fat, is in considerable repute. Its chief residence 

 is in the vicinity of the sea, where there are extensive mud flats. 

 It has a sharp whistle of three or four notes when about to take 

 wing, and when flying. These birds may be shot down with 

 great facility if the sportsman, after the first discharge, will only 

 lie close, and permit the wounded birds to flutter about without 

 picking them up; the flock will generally make a circuit and 

 alight repeatedly, until the greater part of them may be shot 

 down. 



