270 
PRiECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOLJ3. 
Hab. America in general, but breeding only in cold-temperate and subarctic climates of the 
northern continent ; in winter, south to Chili and Buenos Ayres. 
Sp. Char. Adult, summer plumage : Above, variegated with slate-black, pale gray, and white, 
the former predominating, the latter in the form of spots along the edge of the feathers, including 
the wing-coverts and tertials ; crown and nape grayish white, widely streaked with dusky ; upper 
tail-coverts white, irregularly barred with the same ; primaries plain blackish slate ; tail white, all 
the feathers barred with dusky, the middle feathers grayish, barred with dusky, the latter some- 
times obsolete. Head, neck, and lower parts white, only the abdomen and throat immaculate ; 
lores, cheeks, malar region, auriculars, and neck (all round), streaked with dusky ; breast, sides, 
and flanks, barred or transversely spotted with dusky, the bars more sagittate on the crissum. 
Winter plumage : Above, rather light ash-gray, without the black, but with the white spotting of 
the summer dress ; foreneck and jugulum more narrowly streaked ; breast nearly or cpute immacu- 
late ; and sides and flanks faintly and irregularly marked with grayish. Young, first plumage : 
Similar to the winter dress, but darker and more brownish above, the white spotting tinged with 
light brownish buff ; lower parts similar. Bill black ; iris brown ; legs and feet deep yellow 
(tinged with olive in young). 
Total length, about 14 inches ; wing, 7.50-7.75 ; culmen, 2.20-2.30 ; tarsus, 2.50-2.75 ; middle 
toe, 1.35-1.50. 
In nearly or quite all parts of the United States the “Tell-tale Tattler,” as this 
bird is sometimes called by sportsmen, is known only as a migratory visitant. Wilson 
speaks of its arriving in the Middle States in April, and of its remaining there until 
September, and breeding in the marshes. He describes the nest and eggs only from 
report. In all this he was undoubtedly misinformed; at least it is not now known 
to remain on any portion of our sea-coast during the summer, and its nest and eggs 
are still unknown. Mr. Boardman informs me that this bird is found about Calais 
early in summer, and it is possible that a few may remain and breed ; but this is at 
best very doubtful. It is much the most abundant in the spring and fall. 
In Southern Wisconsin, as we are informed by Mr. Kumlien, the Winter Yellow- 
leg, known there as the “ Tell-tale,” arrives on the borders of Lake Ivoskonong in 
April, and is one of the last birds to leave in the fall. Stragglers are found along the 
shore throughout the summer. Dr. Hoy, in his “ List of the Birds of Wisconsin,” 
states that it nests in all the large marshes of that State. There being very large 
ones on the borders of Lake Ivoskonong, this bird may possibly breed among 
them ; but Mr. Kumlien does not think so, as he has not only never noticed it doing 
so, but has never even found any birds young enough to justify the belief that they 
