416 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



markings all have a spiral trend and are more numerous about the 

 larger ends of the eggs. 



The Solitary Sandpiper (one or the other or both subspecies) feeds 

 on worms, aquatic insects and their larvae, beetles, grasshoppers, cater- 

 pillars, spiders, and small mollusks (Forbush, 1912, p. 308; and au- 

 thors). Its general diet of fresh-water insect life commends the species 

 to man's favor. Its small numbers, in California at least, bar it from 

 serious pursuit as a game species. Furthermore, it migrates through 

 the state chiefl}^, if not entirely, during the closed season. Interest in 

 it lies rightly with the naturalist rather than with the sportsman. 



Western Willet 



Catoptrophonts semipalmatus inoynatus (Brewster) 



Other names — Willet; Candlestick Plover; Catoptrophorus semipaJmatus ; 

 Symphemia semipalinata i)wrnata; Symphemia semipahnata ; Totanus semipal- 

 matufi ; Symphemia semipahnata speculifcra. 



Descrfption — Adults, hotli sexes, in spring and early summer: Top aud sides 

 of head blackish brown, streaked with whitish; cheeks and spot in front of eye 

 lightest in effect; eyelids white; chin white, sparingly flecked with dark 

 brown; iris dark brown; bill slaty black, changing to gray at base; hind neck 

 narrowly streaked with dark brown and ashy; back chiefly black with a faint 

 bronzy sheen, and mottled with pale buffy or dull white (many worn ashy 

 brown feathers of the winter plumage usually remain); rump grayish brown; 

 upper tail coverts and bases of tail feathers whitish, with narrow bars or flecks 

 of brownish black; tail feathers pale drab brown, outer ones palest; outer 

 surface of closed wing (coverts only) drab brown or gray; terminal third of 

 primaries and all of primary coverts, black; basal two-thirds of primaries and 

 most of secondaries, white; tertials like back; margin of wing mottled brownish 

 black and white; lining of wing and axillars deep blackish brown, many of 

 the feathers narrowly tipped with whitish; under surfaces of primaries and 

 secondaries like outer surfaces of same; lower surface, except belly, suffused 

 with buflfy; throat streaked, and breast, sides and lower tail coverts irregularly 

 barred, with brown; belly white; legs and feet light olive gray. Adults and 

 immatures, both sexes, in winter: Upper surface uniform grayish brown; a light 

 spot in front of eye; eyelids and chin white; tail coverts, tail, aud wing, as 

 in summer adults; side of head grayish brown streaked with dark brown; 

 whole neck, breast and sides grayish brown and continuous in tone with color 

 of upper surface, but gradually fading to white on belly; flanks and under 

 tail coverts, sparingly flecked with pale grayish brown. Males: Total length 

 14.90-15.75 inches (378-400 mm.) (two specimens) ; folded wing 8.0.3-8.35 (204- 

 212); bill along culmen 2.23-2.54 (56.6-64.4); tarsus 2.52-2.84 (64.2-72.1) (four 

 specimens). Females: Total length 15.00-16.25 (381-413) (five specimens); 

 folded wing 8.15-8.55 (207-217); bill along culmen 2.27-2.50 (57.7-63.4); tarsus 

 2.29-2.80 (58.2-71.1) (five specimens); all adults and full-grown immatures 

 from California. Juvenile plumage: Like that of adults in winter, but upper 

 surface lacking ashy tinge, it being brownish with buflfy and blackish feather- 

 edgings and blackish shaft streaks; under surface of body white, slightly 



