BIRDS — SCOLOPACIDAE— SYMPIIEMIA BEMIPALMATA. 729 



SYMl'IIKMIA, Rafincsquc. 



Symphemia, RAFlKE^qoE, Jour, dc Phys. 1819. Typo Scolopaz semipalmala, Gniclin. 

 Catoplrophorus, BosAP. Syii. 1828, 323. Same type. 



Ch. — Bill comprc^od, very thick, tlio culincn rounded. The lower mandible scarcely grooved ; the upper grooved to about 

 the middle. Culmeii sliglitly convex : gonys ascending. Bill cleft, out little beyond base of culinen. Feullicrs of sides of bolli 

 mandibles falling xhort of the nostrils ; the lower rather further forward. Chin feathers reaching lo beginning of nostrils. Bill 

 longer than head ; aliout equal to tarsus, which is more than I j times the middle too. Both toes webbed ; the omarglnation of 

 inner web as far forward as the middle of basal joint of middle toe; the outer reaching; nearly to the end. Bae portion of 

 tibia rather less than middle toe without claw. Tail nearly even, or little rounded, not half the wings. 



SYMPHEMIA SEMIPALMATA, (Gm.) Hartlaub. 



Willet. 



Sninpax xviijxilinalin, Gmelik, Pyst. Nat. I, 1788, (wO.— Wii.sos, Am. Orn. VII, I^^13, 27; pi. Ivi. 

 TUaims umijalmalus, Tk.mm. Man— Bu.v. Obs 1625; No. 200.— Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1631, a'?8; pi. Ixvii.— Auu. Orn. 



Biog. Ill, 1835, 510 : V, 585; pi. 274.— In. Birds Anier. V, 1842, 324 ; pi. 347. 

 " Glottis Sivii]xj!nialus, Nilsson, Orn. Suec. 1817.'' , 



Totanus (Caloptrcphorui) stinipalmatm, Bo.s. Syn. 1828, 328.— Nutt. Man. 11, 1831, 144. 

 Symphemia lemifolmata, Hartlaub, Rev. Zool. 1845, 342. 



.* Tolumis sj>eaili/enis, "Ctv. R. A. 1817, 2d ed. I, 531."— Puchi.han, Rev. et Mag. Zool. Ill, 1851, 569. 

 Totamu crassiroitris, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. VI, 1616, 4(1G. 

 Symphemia atlanlica, Rak. Journal de Pbys. LXXXVIII, 1819, 417. 



FicDRES.— Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, pi. 56, fig. 3. — Aud. B. of Am. pi. 274 ; oct. ed. V, pi. 347.— Rich, and SHains. Faun. Bor. 

 Am. Birds, pi. 67.— Gould B. of Eur. IV, pi. 311. 



Sp. Ch. — The largest American species of this genus. Bill longer than the liead, straight, rather thick and strong; groove in 

 the upper mandible extending about half its length, in the lower mandibU' nearly ob.^oleto; vrings lung; legs long, strong ; toes 

 moderate, united at base by membranes, the larger of which unites the outer and middle toe; hind toe small; tail short. 

 Adult. Entire upper parte dark ash color, (without spots;) the sliafts of the feathers brownish black; rump and upper tai' 

 coverts white. Under parts white, tinged with ashy on the neck and sides; axillaries and under wing coverts brownish black; 

 primary quills white at base, and tipped with brownish black; secondaries white, spotted with brownish black; tail ashy white, 

 ' the two middle feathers strongly tinged with ashy; others spotted with dark ashy brown. Bill dark bluish brown, lighter at 

 base; legs light blue. Younger. Entire plumage spotted, and transversely banded with brownish black. 



Total length about 15 iacbes ; wing, 8:1; tail, 3| ; bill about 2^ ; tarsus about 2J inches. 



ZToA. — Entire temperate regions of North America; South America. 



This large and handsome species is easily recognized, and is abundant on both the Atlantic 

 and Pacific coasts of the republic. There is very considerable difference of color between the 

 adult and young birds ; but the white space on the wings is a character always present and 

 easily distinguished. It is the largest bird of this group inhabiting the United States. 



The Totanus speculifervs of Cuvier, according to Pucheran, is very similar to the common 

 willet, but stands higher, and has a longer bill; the feet are similar in botli. I have been 

 unable to appreciate the validity of this distinction in the extensive series before me. 



Aagnst 10, 18S8. 



92 b 



