ONTARIO. 



places where cattle have been in the habit of visiting to obtain 

 water. I have not seen more than two together. In thei^ 

 motions they are quiet and sedate, but have the habit peculiar 

 to others of this class, of nervously jerking their hinder parts in 

 a manner apparently satisfactory to themselves, though what 

 particular purpose is served by it, is not to us apparent. From 

 having seen this species in all the summer months, I have 

 placed it on the list as a rare summer resident here. 



Genus SYMPHEMIA Rafinesque. 

 104. SYMPHEMIA SEMIPALMATA (Gmel.). 258. 



Willet. 



Bill straight, comparatively stout, grooved little if any more than half its 

 length. In summer, gray above, with numerous black marks, white below, 

 the jugulum streaked, the breast, sides and crissum barred or with arrow 

 shaped marks of dusky (in winter, and in young birds, all these dark marks 

 few or wanting, except on jugulum) ; upper tail-coverts, most of the 

 secondaries, and basal half of primaries, white ; ends of primaries, their 

 coverts, lining of wings, and axillars, black ; bill bluish or dark. Toes with 

 two conspicuous basal webs. Length, 12-16 ; wing, 7-8; tail, 2J-3 ; bill or 

 tarsus, 2-2 J ; tibia bare, i or more, middle toe and claw, 1^-2. 



Hab. Temperate North America, south to the West Indies and Brazil. 



Nest in a tussock of grass in the marsh, just above water level. 



Eggs 3 to 4 ; usually clay color, splashed or spotted with varying shades 

 of umber brown. 



Very little is known of this species in Ontario. On two 

 occasions I have seen it brought in by gunners from the marsh, 

 but have not met with it alive. That it passes this way in 

 spring and fall is probable, as it breeds generally throughout the 

 United States as far north as Dakota, and has also been 

 observed in the Northwest by Prof. Macoun. In general 

 appearance it resembles the Greater Yellow Shanks, but in the 

 present species the legs are bluish-lead color. The Willets are 

 very wary birds, and along the sea coast, where they are more 

 common and much sought after, decoys are used to attract 

 them within range. In the fall they are said to get extremely 

 fat and are much prized for the table. 



107 



