146 • WADING BIRDS. 



whole most numerous at the great end. According to 

 Wilson, the eggs are very palatable as food. The young 

 covered with a grey colored down, run off as soon as freed 

 from the shell, and are led about by the mother in quest of 

 their proper food, while the vociferous male keeps careful 

 watch for their safety. On entering these breeding places, 

 the spectator is beset by the Willets, flying wildly around, 

 and skimming over his head, with the clamorous cry of ^pill- 

 will-willet,' accompanied at times, when much excited and 

 alarmed by an approach to the nest, with a loud clicking 

 note, in the manner of the Avocet. Exhausted with their 

 vigilant and defensive exertions, at times, they utter a sad 

 and plaintive note, and occasionally alighting, slowly close 

 their long, silvery and particolored wings, as if acting a part 

 to solicit compassion. Among their most common and pi- 

 ratical enemies, are the Crows, who roam over the marshes 

 in quest of eggs, and as soon as they appear are attacked by 

 the Willets in united numbers, who w ith loud vociferations 

 pursue them off the ground. During the term of incuba- 

 tion, the female, fatigued with her task, and occasionally 

 leaving her eggs to the influence of the ardent sun, resorts 

 to the shore, and deeply wading, washes and dresses her plu- 

 mage, frequently emerging, and performing her ablutions 

 w^ith an air of peculiar satisfaction. Indeed the Willets 

 generally wade more than most of their tribe ; and when 

 disabled from flying by a wound, they take to the water 

 without hesitation, and swim with apparent ease. The 

 peculiar note which characterizes and gives name to this 

 remarkable species of Chevalier, is only uttered by the 

 adults ; and the call of the young, w hen associated by them- 

 selves, appears to be a kind of shrill and plaintive w^histle, 

 almost like that of the Curlew. The Willet subsists chiefly 

 on small shell-fish, aquatic insects, their larvae, and molusca, 

 in quest of which it constantly resorts to the muddy shores 



