SEMIPALMATED SNIPE. 81 



through the salt marshes. The young are covered 

 with a grey-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 hy these birds 

 for their eggs and young, are truly interesting. A 

 person no sooner enters the marshes, than he is beset 

 by 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 often resorts to the sea shore, 

 where, standing up to the belly in water, she washes 

 and dresses her plumage, seeming to enjoy great satis- 

 faction 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 incu- 

 bation, in an almost 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 on the 

 land side, such as crows, jays, weasels, foxes, minx, and 

 man himself, that these affectionate tribes have most to 

 dread. 



The willet subsists chiefly on small shell fish, marine 



VOL. III. F 



