ack. The legs, as implied by the name of the bird, are yellow and
long; length of bird, 14 inches. They nest most abundantly in localities
remote from habitations, in the interior of Canada. The eggs are
generally laid on the ground, near a marsh or on the bank of a stream,
with little or no lining to the nest. They are grayish white, boldly
splashed with several shades of brown, and with lilac. Size 1.65 x 1.25.
Data.--Whale River, Labrador, June 10, 1902. Eggs laid on the ground in
an open marsh.

255. YELLOW-LEGS. _Totanus flavipes._

Range.--North America, breeding chiefly in the interior and eastern
parts of Canada, and rarely in the upper Mississippi Valley. This
species is very similar to the preceding, but is smaller; length 10.5
inches. It is also called the "Lesser Tell-tale," a name applied because
of their wariness, and because, when they fly, they warn all other
species within hearing, of danger. Their eggs are laid on the ground,
and in similar localities to the preceding. They are three or four in
number, grayish or buffy in color, and are quite heavily blotched and
spotted with rich brown and grayish or lilac. Size 1.60 x 1.20.
Data.--Whale River, Labrador, June 14, 1902. Four eggs laid on the
ground in a large marsh.

[Illustration 155: Grayish white.]
[Illustration: Greater Yellow-legs. Yellow-legs.]
[Illustration: Buffy.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 154

256. SOLITARY SANDPIPER. _Helodromas solitarius solitarius._

Range.--Eastern North America, breeding chiefly north of the United
States boundary, but apt to be found nesting in any part of its range;
winters south of the United States.

A bird with a greenish gray back, barred with white, and white below;
length 8.5 inches. This species is one of the oddities among the waders.
They are most always met with, singly or in pairs, and are very rarely
seen, even in very small flocks. Their preference is for small ponds or
streams in wet woods or open meadows, rather than marshes which are
frequented by other species. They are occasionally seen during the
nesting season, even in the southern parts of their range, and they
probably breed there although their eggs are very rarely found. The eggs
are clay-colored, spotted with brownish black. Data.--Simco Island,
Kingston, Ontario, June 10, 1898. 5 eggs in a shallow depression on the
ground, lined with a few grasses.

[Illustration 156: Solitary Sandpiper.]
[Illustration: Clay-color