286 



PR^COCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



grayish. In life, "bill light blue, dusky toward end ; iris brown ; feet light blue, claws black" 

 (Audubon). 



Total lengtli, about 15.00-17. (tO inches ; extent, 25.00-30.00 ; wing, 8.00-9.00 ; culmen, 2.30- 

 2.60; tarsus. 2.40-2.85 ; middle toe, 1.35-1.40. 



The Willet is one of the most extensively distribiTted of all our American birds. 

 It is not only found along the entire Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to Florida, and 

 along the entire Gulf coast, but is equally abundant on the Pacific and through nearly 

 all the marshy regions of the interior ; it also occurs throughout Central and South 

 America as far south as the Pampas, where it breeds in large numbers. Burmeister 

 could find no difference between South American examples of this bird and those 

 from farther north. 



Mr. Xelson refers to this species as being a rare summer resident in the marshes 

 and on the wet prairies of ISTortheastern Illinois, where it arrives the last of April, 

 leaving by the first of October. The same writer afterward found it abundant on the 

 shores of Salt Lake, in company with Avocets, where its clamor made it a perfect 

 nuisance to the sportsman. Captain Bendire also noticed it as an abundant summer 

 resident in Soutlieastern Oregon, where he procured several sets of its eggs, wdiich 

 began to be laid about the 10th of May. These birds were quite as abundant in the 

 higher mountain valleys, at an altitude of six thousand feet, as they Avere in the lower 

 regions, apparently frequenting all marshy localities. Dr. Bryant found tliis to be 

 an abundant species in the Bahamas, where it was also resident, breeding in all suit- 

 able localities, and being known as the " Duck Snipe." 



On the Pacific coast, according to Dr. Cooper, it is one of the most common of the 

 shore-birds, especially in the southern portions of California and about San Fran- 

 cisco, in the market of which it is plentiful all the year round. Although no nests 

 had been found, there could be no doubt that it breeds abundantly in that State, as 

 Dr. Cooper had met with fledged young at San Pedro early in eluly. It frequents 

 the marshy ground, both on the coast and in the interior toward the north, but none 

 were seen on the Colorado. According to Dr. Heermann. tliey are found along Hum- 

 boldt River. Mr. Ridgway found the Willet in June breeding abundantly on the 

 grassy flats on the southern shores of Great Salt Lake, in company with the Long- 

 billed Curlew. It was found in considerable numbers on the shores of small saline 

 lakes near the SaskatcheAvan by Richardson, but is not known to range in the sum- 

 mer any farther north than the 56th parallel, occurring only in the interior. 



Mr. Salvin speaks of this species as occurring in Guatemala, where it was quite 

 common at Chiapam, as well as on all the lagoons along the entire Pacific coast. 



