Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 417 



Adult in winter: Bill, nearly straight; upper plumage, gray, show- 

 ing indications of grayish white on the tips of some of the feathers 

 on the back; chin, whitish; throat, ashy gray; the rest of under parts, 

 white, showing ashy on the sides of the body; axUlars, smoky black. 

 The broad, white band on the wings is a distinguishing character of 

 this bird when flying. 



Length, 15.00; wing, 8.10; tarsus, 2.30; bill, 2 to 2.30. 



This species has been given by various authors as occurring in 

 Illinois and Wisconsin, but we have very little definite information 

 concerning it, on account of the comparative rarity of Willets in this 

 region together with the fact that both forms are considered the 

 same by the average sportsman. All specimens taken within our 

 limits which I have examined proved to be inornatus. 



Ridgway writes that he is unable to state whether or not semi- 

 palmatus occurs in Illinois. Nelson, of course, considered them all 

 semipalmatiis , as at that time (1876) the two forms had not been 

 separated. A. J. Cook (Birds of Michigan, 1893, p. 61) includes this 

 species as a "rare summer resident" and does not mention inornatus. 

 A. W. Butler (Birds of Indiana, 1897) gives. both semipalmatus and 

 inornatus as rare migrants, possibly rare summer residents. W. W. 

 Cooke (Bird Migration Mississippi Valley, 1888, p. 96) does not 

 mention semipalmatus , but gives inornatus. Kumlien and Hollister 

 (Birds of Wisconsin, 1903, p. 50) include this species as "A rare wader 

 in Wisconsin," but suggest that inornatus might occur in the state 

 "if only as a rare straggler during migrations." 



127a. Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus (Brewst.). 

 Western Willet. 



Symphemia semipalmaia inornata Brewst., A. O. U. Check List, 

 1895, P- 95- 



Distr.: Western North America, east to Mississippi Valley and 

 Gulf states and casual on southern Atlantic coast; south in winter 

 to Mexico; breeds from Texas to Manitoba. 



Adult: The Western Willet is very similar to the eastern form, 

 but may be distinguished from it in summer plumage by the absence 

 of the bars on the middle tail feathers. Size, slightly larger; wing, 

 about 8.50; tarsus, about 2.50 inches; middle tail feathers, without 

 bars. In winter plumage, the two forms can not be distinguished 

 with any certainty. 



This form occurs in Illinois and probably Wisconsin, but is by no 



