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TOTANUS SEMIPALMATUS— LATH. 



SEMIPALMATED TATLEIl. 



Srolopax semipal iiata, Wjlg. 



Tota'iiJs semii'al.natus, Spmipalmatcd Taller, Sw. & Rich. 



Scini|ialir.atr..l Snipe or Wilier, Niitt. 



Semipalmatcd Suipc or WiUel, Aud. 



Spccijic Characler — Secondaries and basal part of the pri-- 

 maries white; Iocs connected at base by broad membranes. Adult 

 wiili the head and neck brown, intermixed with grayisli-wiiitc ; 

 breast and side^ of the bod}' spotted and waved wilh brown on 

 white ground ; abdomen white ; tail coverts white, barred with 

 brown ; tail grayisli brown, barred wiih darker brov/n — the outer 

 two feathers lighter ; rump brown ; fore part of ihc back and wing 

 coverts brown, largely spoiled wiili dull white ; primaries blackish 

 brown, broadly banded witli white; secondaries white. Length 

 fifleen inches and a half, wing eight. 



This handsome species is well known to all our bay-men by the 

 name of " Willet," by which appellation it is equally familiar to all 

 sportsmen who fancy bay shooting. 



It passes the winter in the Southern States, and at the approach 

 of spring commences migrating northward. It arrives on the 

 shores of Long Island about the first of May, and is common on 

 the sea coast of New Jersey at the same period. It is quite com- 

 mon to the Island, though it cannot be said to be very abundant, 

 nor is it so plentiful as it is at Egg Harbor, where it breeds. In 

 the latter part of May its nest is found on the salt marshes among 

 the grass, of which material, and a few rushes, it is formed. The 

 eggs — four in number, are rather more than two inches in length, 

 and about an inch and a half in breadth, and very thick at the 

 largest end — the color dark olive, blotched with blackish-brown, 

 which markings are more numerous at the great end. 



During the season of incubation, if you approach its nest, it 

 rises from the marsh and flies wildly around, filling the air with its 

 shrill cries, which consist of three notes, which are so violently re- 

 peated when defending its eggs or young, as to be audible h^lf a 

 mile distant. I have heard the gunners assert that on such occa- 



