HAUNTS AND HABITS. 
13 
has been duped, or, as we say, ‘'fooled”; and not being 
willing to be laughed at by his fellows, who are feeding un¬ 
disturbed over the fields, he approaches the spot from whence 
came his “scare,” and as he comes “quiddling” along 
trilling his alarm note, when in the right place, the gun is 
seized and in a trice the victim falls nearly at the feet of the 
gunner. He instantly drops again and remains quiescent 
till the birds have recovered from their fright, when he pro¬ 
ceeds as before. On one occasion he discovered seventeen 
of these birds in a pasture of only a few acres on a hill, and 
in less than two hours, in this way, retreating and working 
the ground over several times, he killed the entire seventeen! 
Winter yellowlegs appear in moderate quantities. Nest 
here and further north, and return. Summer yellowlegs 
(Totanus Jlavipes, Bon.), also arrive early in considerable 
number?, but push on furiher North as soon as the season 
will permit. Their southern journey is mestlybysome other 
and more easterly route. The red-backed sandpiper, T. 
alpina, better known here as “Dunlin,” is a regular visitant, 
though not in large numbers; breeds further north. The 
little solitary sandpiper, “tip up,” is common here as in most 
other parts of the country. Beetle-headed plover, red-breasted 
sandpiper, sanderlings and jack curlew, although occasional 
visitants in this locality, are not as abundant as they are 
further east. We are inclined to the opinion that most of 
these birds that pass down the valley of the Mississippi, being 
either immature or heavy flyers, as, for instance, s'ckle-billed 
curlew and the godwhs, spend the winter in the Gulf States, 
Mexico or Central America. 
