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PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 
ral Report, has been proved to be the T. semipalmata of Wilson, by actual ex- 
amination of the type specimen. This being the case, Ereunetes must be us^d 
in the present connection, though for the reasons given above, petrijicajus 
cannot be retained. The cause of Nuttall’s proposing for the bird a new getius 
was probably the fact that Bonaparte iU 1828 employed his Hemipalama in 
connection with a very different bird — the Micropalama himantopus of Baird — 
with which it has scarcely a generic character in common except the webbed 
toes. As a reference to the article will show, the name was proposed for, and 
first used in connection with, the T. semipalmata Wils. 
I have thought it well to present the synonomy of this species, since, as will 
be seen, it has received a great variety of names. According to the General 
Report, the Heteropoda Mauri of Bonaparte, or the Ereunetes Mauri of Cabanis, 
is merely a large race of the present bird ; while the remarkable variations in 
the length of the bill, to which the species is subject, have given rise to the 
Hemipalama minor of Gundlach, and the Tringa brevirostris of Spix. Pelidna 
Brissoni of Lesson is probably this species, since he refers to Tringa pusilla of 
Linnaeus. 
No individuals of this species were observed until the latter part of July, 
but soon after that date they became excessively abundant, and continued so 
during the month of August. When on muddy flats I generally found them 
associated with the Ring Plovers and Bonaparte’s Sandpipers ; but when on 
open sandy beaches they keep mostly to themselves, sometimes in flocks of 
great extent, the other species with which they principally mix not generally 
frequenting such situations. When in large flocks dozens may be killed at a 
shot ; and as, after many wheelings, they often alight again on the same spot, 
they afford a second opportunity to the gunner. When wounded, they swim 
with considerable ease, aided by their semipalmated feet ; but they are not 
capable of diving to any extent. These birds, possessing very few distinctive 
traits of habit among the smaller Sandpipers, are yet remarkable in one par- 
ticular — the great facility with which they may be decoyed by imitating their 
call — a low mellow whistle. When skilfully executed, I have seen them ap- 
proach within a few feet of the person seated on a rock in full view, though a 
moment after, on discovering their mistake, they would immediately take 
flight. They are also noted for the excessively fat condition in which they 
are always found in the fall, exceeding that of almost any other bird of their 
family. In this state they are delicious eating, being tender, juicy and deli- 
cately flavored, but on account of their diminutive size they are not much 
sought after. This species is the “Peep ” par excellence, though the Acto- 
dromas Bonapartei and minutilla are also known by the same name. 
Gambetta melanoleuca (Gm.) Bon. — Tell-tale. “Yellow-legs.” 
Totanus vociferus , Aud., Birds Amer. v. 316, pi. 345. 
Gambetta melanoleuca , Cassin, Gen. Rep. 731. 
This large tatler, so well known and so universally disliked by all gunners 
on account of its watchful and noisy nature, is a very common bird along the 
coast of Labrador during the summer and early fall. During the fore part of 
the summer I found them very wary and difficult of approach. They would 
stand motionless and in silence, regarding me with watchful attention until I 
was nearly within shooting distance, when, at a single note from one of the 
flock, all would instantly take flight, emitting their loud and clear whistling, 
as if rejoicing at my discomfiture. By the middle of August, however, they 
seemed to have laid aside their watchfulness, and numbers were procured 
without difficulty. Though found in all situations near the water, their favo- 
rite localities seemed to be the muddy flats laid bare by the tide, the salt 
marshes adjoining them, and the pools which dot these marshes. They are 
seldom found in good condition for the table, being generally very lean. They 
are known altogether as “ Yellow-legs.” 
[Aug. 
