Sia CHARADRIIDZ. 
—SoutH AMERICA in winter!5; Wesr Inpims!®; Banama Is. 5.—Incidental in 
Evrore ), 
Two races of Symphemia are recognized by American ornithologists, an Eastern 
and a Western. ‘The former, the true &. semipalmata, inhabits Eastern Temperate 
North America, breeding from Florida to New Jersey 1%, while the Western bird, 
S. mnornata of Brewster, is found in Western North America, east to the Mississippi 
Valley and the Gulf States, breeding from Texas to Manitoba, and found sparingly 
during migration along the coast of the Southern Atlantic States % Mr. Seebohm ", 
however, could not separate these two races, finding intermediate specimens; and 
Dr. Sharpe agrees with him that only one form can be properly distinguished }. 
Grayson says that at Mazatlan the “ Willet ” is common throughout the entire year, 
from which we may infer that it breeds in Western Mexico. The species has been 
found in Guatemala in winter, as Salvin procured a specimen at San José15 and 
noticed it at Chiapam and in the lagoons of the Pacific coast 45, 
S. semipalmata is mostly found in small flocks, and is a shy and wary bird ‘when 
frequenting the marshes, and in habits appears to be not unlike the Godwits, retiring 
to fields and open grounds when the tide covers its feeding-places. It may also be 
noticed on sand-spits, either singly or a few together, not allowing any near approach. 
In the breeding-season the bird becomes much tamer, and will swoop down on any 
one who approaches its nest. The latter is a mere depression in a tussock of grass. 
The eggs (four in number) vary in colour, from pale greyish-green to pale buff or 
brownish-buff, spotted or blotched with yellowish-brown, umber, or dark chocolate- 
brown, with some underlying spots of inky purple, the spots being generally more 
thickly collected round the larger end 14 1, 
TOTANUS. 
Totanus, Bechst. Orn. Tasch. ii. p. 282 (1808) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiv. p. 409 (1896). 
The true Tattlers have the tarsus longer than the middle toe and claw, as in the 
preceding genus, but only the outer toe is joined to the middle one by a distinct web, 
and there is scarcely any indication of a web between the base of the inner and middle 
toes. The tarsus is longer than the middle toe and claw, being more than one and a 
half times as long as the toe. The bill, as in Symphemia, is slightly deflected towards 
the end. | 
Members of the genus Yo¢anus are found over the entire globe, nesting in the 
sub-arctic and temperate areas of both Northern Hemispheres, and travelling south 
in winter. ‘Two species are peculiar to America, and both of these occur in winter 
within our limits. 
