YELLOWLEGS, a genus (Tortillas) of birds of the family Scolopacitia, large snipe like species with cross-harred tail-feathers, well-marked Rape, long, slender non-sensitive bill and greenish yellow legs, from which they take their common names of yellowlegs, green shanks, etc., while, because of their constant noisy calling, they are known to gunners as tattlers or tell-tale snipe. The greater yellow legs (T. mtdanoleucus) inhabits during some part of the year nearly the entire American continent and breeds chiefly north of the United States, in which it is well known as a coast wise migrant. It is 13 to 14 inches long, with a spread of wings of two feet. Above the color is a mixed dark ashy, varying with the age and season, below white streaked and bar red with ashy black. Although chiefly a mari time bird, this species also migrates through the Mississippi \'alley and is found about the lakes of the Interior; and even along the coast it is fond of frequenting the fresh and brackish pools on the meadows, where it finds an abundance of food in the small fishes, mollusks, shrimps and crabs. It also cats worms, insects and the spawn of fishes, which it catches with great facility. During the migrations, which occur in April and from late August to Octo ter through the greater part of the United States. it is commonly seen in small parties of six or eight, often consorting with other species of tattlers, willets and godwits. The
flight is swift and often elevated, and in alight ing in pools in which they wade kg-deep they keep the wings raised until well settled. They are extremely alert and noisy and thus pro voke the indignation of gunners. The nest is a grass-lined depression on the ground and the four, python's, greenish yellow, brown and gray blotched eggs measure upward of two inches in length.. The lesser yellowlegs (T. flavipes) is in form and colors nearly an ex act miniature of the last, but is only 10 or 11 inches long, with a spread of 20 inches. Its range and habits are similar to those of the larger species, but it is much commoner in the East, flies in larger flocks and is better known to shooters of shore-birds. The eggs are more variable, the ground-color being clay or buff, and the markingi usually very bold and distinct. The European greenshank (q.v.) occasionally straggles to our shores and may be distinguished from T. melonoletteus, which it resembks in size, by the distinctly green color of the lower legs and feet. About a doten related species are found in other parts of the world and the genus Ilrlodrornas, containing our solitary and green sandpipers. is closely allied. For methods of shooting see SANDPIPER.