SOLITARY TATTLER. A85 
Very common spring and fall migrant. The Lesser Telltale is rather 
more extensively distributed while with us than the former species. It 
is not confined to stony banks of streams, but may be found about muddy 
banks of ponds or in any situation resorted to by Sandpipers or Plover. 
They are often found in flocks of from five to six, or in pairs, or as sin- 
gle birds, either solitary or associated with other Sandpipers. Usually 
they are quite tame and unsuspicious. 
They are not known to breed within the State, but Mr. Nelson reports 
their breeding in Illinois. The eggs are described as three or fourin num- 
ber, light brown or clay-color, blotched with very dark-brown. They 
measure about 1.65 by 1.16. 
Sub-genus Rhyacophilus. Toes with inner web rudimentary ; legs blackish. 
TOTANUS SOLITARIUS (Wils.) Aud. 
Solitary ‘Tattler. 
Totanus chlorypygius, KirtTLAND, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1838, 165. 
Rhyacophtlus solitarius, WHEATON, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1860, 369, 378; Reprint, 1861, 
11, 
Totanus solitarius, WHEATCN, Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 573; Re- 
print, 1875, 13.—Cousgs, Birds of N. W., 1874, 449 (eggs ?).—_ LaneGpon, Cat. Birds of 
Cin., 1877, 15; Revised List, Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Aist., i, 1879, 183; Reprint, 17 ; 
Summer Birds, ib., iii, 1880, 227. 
Totanus chloropygius, VIEILLOT, Nouv. Dict. d’Hist., Nat., vi, 1816, 401. 
Tringa soltiaria, WILSON, Am. Orn., 1790, 730. 
Totanus solitarius, AUDUBON, Syn., 1839, 242. 
Rhyacophilus solitarius, CASSIN, Birds N. Am., 1858, 733. 
Bill perfectly straight, very slender, grooved little beyond its middle. Dark lustrous 
olive- brown, streaked on the head and neck, elsewhere finely speckled with whitish ; 
jugulum and sides of neck with brownish suffusion and dusky streaks; rump and upper 
tail-coverts like the back; tail, axillars and lining of wings beautifully barred with 
black and white; quills entirely blackish ; bill and feet very dark olive-green; young 
duller above, less speckled, jugulum merely suffused with grayish-brown. Length, 8-9; 
wing, 5; tail 24; bill, tarsus, and middle toe, each about 1-12; tibiz bare %. 
Habitat, Western Hemisphere. North to Alaska. Breeds in Northern United States 
and northward, if not also throughout most of the United States range. Winters 
chiefly or altogether beyond our limits, in Mexico, Central and South America, and West 
Indies. Accidental in Europe. 
Common migrant, and in part summer resident. The, Solitary Sand- 
piper is well named, when its personal habits or the localities which it 
frequents are considered. It is found, except during and shortly after the 
breeding season, about small ponds in woods, remote shaded ditches or 
small brooks, just such localities as are frequented by the Water Thrush. 
