WANDERING TATTLER 41 



Keokuk, October 27 ; Illinois, Chicago, September 30 ; and Connecti- 

 cut, West Haven, September 3, and once in October. 



Casual records. — In spite of its regular occurrence on the Atlantic 

 coast, the western willet has been detected only on a few occasions in 

 the interior States east of the Mississippi River. There appear to 

 be several records for Ohio from April 30 (Oberlin) to November 2 

 (Bay Point) ; one for Indiana, Millers, August 14, 1897; and one for 

 Michigan, Ann Arbor, May, 1889. One was taken July 20, 1898 at 

 Toronto, Ontario, and four other specimens without data are pre- 

 sumed to be from the same locality (Fleming). Other casual oc- 

 currences are : Washington, Seattle, July 23, 1922, and Tacoma, Sep- 

 tember 6, 1913; British Columbia, Clover Point, August 18, 1898; 

 probably Yukon, Lake Marsh, July 2, 1899; and Alaska, Lynn Canal 

 (Hartlaub). 



Egg dates. — Utah : 32 records, April 5 to May 21 ; 16 records, May 

 4 to 14. Saskatchewan and North Dakota: 19 records. May 8 to 

 June 22 ; 10 records, Ma}^ 23 to June 7. Washington to California : 

 9 records. May 8 to June 16. 



HETEROSCELUS INCANUS (GmcHn) 



WANDERING TATTLER 



HABITS 



Along the rocky and stony portions of the Pacific coast, and 

 especially on the islands and outlying reefs, this ocean wanderer 

 is a common and well-known bird. Here it is much at home among 

 the surf -swept rocks, drenched in ocean spray and often enveloped in 

 fog; it has no fear of foaming breakers, which it nimbly dodges 

 as it seeks its bits of marine food among the kelp and barnacles 

 on the rocks. It is, at most seasons, essentially a bird of the sea- 

 shore, but is seldom seen on the sandy or muddy shores. The dark 

 color of its upper plumage matches its surroundings and it is not 

 easily seen among the gloomy rocks, unless its characteristic outline 

 can be seen against the sky or water as it poses on the top of some 

 prominent rock to watch the intruder. If he approach too near, 

 it flies off a short distance with loud, piercing cries and alights 

 on another rock, to bob and teeter, somev/hat like our familiar 

 spotted and solitary sandpipers. It is generally solitary and seems 

 to be satisfied with its own society. 



It is well named, as it is a famous wanderer. I am tempted to 

 quote Dr. E. W. Nelson's (1887) well-chosen v/ords on this subject, 

 as follows: 



Over the entire coast of the Pacific north of the equator its presence has 

 been noted by the various naturalists wliose Bohemian tastes have made their 



