KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



28s 



Genus SYMPHEMIA Raf. 



SYMPHEHIA SEMIPALMATA {GmeL). 

 Willet: 



Adtdt ill summei- : Upper plumage gray, streaked on the head with dark brown, and the 

 central portion of many of the feathers has the back blotclied with brown ; chin white ; throat 

 white dotted with brown ; under parts dull white, the feathers on the sides barred with brown 

 and washed with tawny ; axillars black ; bill bluish, dusky toward end. 



Adult in winter : Bill nearly straight, upper plumage gray, showing faint indications of 

 whitish on tlie tips of some of the feathers on the back ; chin whitish ; throat ashy gray ; the 

 rest of under parts white, showing ashy on the sides of the body. The broad white band on the 

 wings is a distinguishing character of this bird when flying, formed by the basal portion of 

 the primaries and some of the secondaries being white. 



Length, 15.50; Wing, 8.10; Tarsus. 2.30; Bill, 2 to 2.30. 



.Symphemia semipalmata. 



Ranges from temperate South America south to the West Indies and 

 South America. 



It breeds from New England to Florida, although it does not breed 

 commonly north of the CaroHnas. It is a very common species in Florida, 



