98 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 



A little grass-fringed pond in the half open woods is a favorite 

 wading-ground of the solitary sandpiper's, but the birds are often 

 seen singly or in pairs by wayside puddles or meadow creeks, pick- 

 ing their food from the shallow water with easy graceful motions, 

 pausing now and then with head erect to make a teetering bow. 

 They are quiet, shy birds, but not unapproachable, and they show 

 an interested curiosity in strangers. Vernon Ballet. 



256a. H. S. cinnamomeus (Brewst.). Western Solitary Sand- 

 piper. 



Slightly larger than solitarius, with the spotting of back in typical 

 specimens cinnamon brown instead of white or creamy, and with sides of 

 face lighter colored. Wing: 5.10-5.49, tail 2.18-2.80, biU 1.15-1.30. 



Distribution. — Western North America, migrating south through the 

 Great Basin and Pacific coast region to Lower California and southward. 



In general appearance and habits the western is the counterpart 

 of the eastern solitary. 



GENUS SYMPHEMIA. 



258a. Symphemia semipalmata inornata Brewst. West- 

 ern WiLLET. 



Size large, bill slender, straight, about as long as tarsus ; base of toes 

 webbed ; base of tail and large patch on wing always white. Adults in 

 summer : upper parts mottled gray and dusky ; end of tail gray ; belly 

 white ; chest and sides buffy, barred with dusky, and throat streaked with 

 dusky. Adults in ivinter : upper parts plain ashy gray ; under parts white, 

 grayish on sides of throat and breast. Young : like adults, but upper 

 parts and sides more buffy or ochraceous. Wing : 7.88-8.26, bill 2.28-2.70, 

 tarsus 2.45-2.95. 



Distribution. — North America, west of the Mississippi valley, and north 

 to about 56°, breeding from the Gulf coast of Texas north to Manitoba ; 

 south in winter to Mexico. Casual along the Atlantic states in migration. 



Nest. — In a tussock of grass, rather bulky, and composed of grass and 

 various plant stems. Eggs : 4, grayish buffy or olive, heavily spotted 

 with dark brown and purplish gray. 



The western willet differs from the eastern in slightly larger size 

 and in shades of color, but not in general appearance or habits. 

 The shores of lakes and ponds are its favorite feeding grounds, but 

 it is sometimes found on the meadows or prairies not far from water. 



After seeing the inconspicuous ashy gray birds feeding quietly 

 along a sandy beach, there is something startling in the flash of 

 strongly contrasted white and dark gray markings and the boisterous 

 laugh as they take to wing. Once seen and heard, they can be con- 

 fused with no other waders. Vernon Bailey. 



GENUS HETERACTITIS. 



259. Heteractitis incanus {Gmel). Wandering Tatler. 



Web between middle and outer toes, but not between middle and inner ; 



