61 
TELL-TALE SNIPE. 
TOTJIjYUS MELJINOLEUCOS. 
[Plate LVIIL— Fig. 5.] 
Gmel, Syst. p, 659. Ind. Orn. p. 723, Ab. 28. — Spotted Smpey Lath, Syn.voL 3,/). 149, 
var. A,—ArcL ZoqL No. 374 Stone Snipe, Id. No. 376.— -Peale’s Museum, No. 3940. 
THIS species and the preceding are both well known to our 
Duck-gunners, along the seacoast and marshes, by whom they 
are detested, and stigmatized with the names of the greater and 
lesser Tell-tale, for their faithful vigilance in alarming the Ducks 
with their loud and shrill whistle, on the first glimpse of the gun- 
ner’s approach. Of the two the present species is by far the most 
watchful ] and its whistle, which consists of four notes rapidly re- 
peated, is so loud, shrill and alarming, as instantly to arouse every 
Duck within its hearing, and thus disappoints the eager expecta- 
tions of the shooter. Yet the cunning and experience of tlic latter, 
is frequently more than a match for all of them, and before the 
poor Tell-tale is aware, his warning voice is hushed for ever, and 
his dead body mingled with those of his associates. 
This bird arrives on our coast early in April ; breeds in tlic 
marshes ; and continues until November, about the middle of which 
month it generally moves off to the south. Tiie nest I have been 
informed is built in a tuft of thick grass, generally on the borders 
of a bog or morass. The female, it is said, la)’s four eggs of a 
dingy white, irregularly marked with black. 
These birds appear to be unknown in Europe. They are 
simply mentioned by Mr. Pennant, as having been observed in au- 
tumn, feeding on the sands on the lower part of Clialteaux bay, 
Q. 
VOL. vn. 
