116 SEMIPALMATED SNIPE. 



and are of a dark dingy olive, largely blotched with blackish 

 brown, particularly at the great end. In some the ground co- 

 lour has a tinge of green; in others of bluish. They are excel- 

 lent eating, as I have often experienced when obliged to dine 

 on them in my hunting excursions through the salt marshes. 

 The young are covered with a gray coloured down; run off soon 

 after they leave the shell ; and are led and assisted in their search 

 of food by the mother; while the male keeps a continual watch 

 around for their safety. 



The anxiety and affection manifested by these birds for their 

 eggs and young, are truly interesting. A person no sooner en- 

 ters the marshes, than he is beset with the Willets, flying around 

 and skimming over his head, vociferating with great violence 

 their common cry of Pill-will-willet ; and uttering at times a 

 loud clicking note, as he approaches nearer to their nest. As 

 they occasionally alight, and slowly shut their long white wings 

 speckled with black, they have a mournful note, expressive of 

 great tenderness. During the term of incubation, the female of- 

 ten resorts to the seashore, where, standing up to the belly in 

 water, she washes and dresses her plumage, seeming to enjoy 

 great satisfaction from these frequent immersions. She is also 

 at other times seen to wade more in the water than most of her 

 tribe; and when wounded in the wing, will take to the water 

 without hesitation, and swims tolerably well. 



The eggs of the Willet, in every instance which has come 

 under my observation, are placed, during incubation, in an al- 

 most upright position, with the large end uppermost; and this 

 appears to be the constant practice of several other species of 

 birds that breed in these marshes. During the laying season, 

 the Crows are seen roaming over the marshes in search of eggs, 

 and wherever they come spread consternation and alarm among 

 the Willets, who in united numbers attack, and pursue them 

 with loud clamours. It is worthy of remark, that -among the 

 various birds that breed in these marshes, a mutual respect is 

 paid to each other's eggs; and it is only from intruders from the 



