424 The Water-fowl Family 



August ; north of this point less often, increasing 

 in abundance from Long Island south. Now a 

 few odd birds are all that are seen. It is met 

 with throughout the interior to the middle of the 

 United States, and often on the marshes has the 

 reputation of acting as sentinel for other birds in 

 the vicinity, quickly sounding the alarm and 

 starting the flock. In winter the willet is found 

 on the larger West Indian Islands, south to 

 Brazil. 



WESTERN WILLET 

 (Symphemia semipalmata inornatd) 



Adult male and female in breeding plumage Similar to S. semi- 

 Palmata^ but the dark markings on the upper parts, fewer, finer, 

 and fainter, on a paler ground ; those on the under parts, duller 

 and more irregular ; middle tail feathers, white or faintly barred ; 

 bill, longer and slenderer. 



Winter plumage and young Similar in the two varieties. 



Measurements Length, 15.25 inches; wing, 8.10 inches; tail, 

 3.30 inches; tarsus, 2.65 inches; oilmen, 2.65 inches. 



Eggs Not distinguishable from the eastern variety. 



Habitat Breeds from Louisiana and Texas north to Manitoba, 

 Athabasca, and Alberta, and west to Oregon, Nevada (?), Utah, 

 and Colorado. Winters on the Gulf Coast of Florida, and from 

 Louisiana, Texas, and southern California, south into Mexico. 

 In the fall migration occurs on the Atlantic Coast from New 

 England south, and in British Columbia and California, and 

 has been doubtfully recorded in summer from the Yukon Valley. 



This variety resembles the eastern bird, but 

 is somewhat larger and generally can be dis- 

 tinguished by its longer bill. The plumage 

 differences are unreliable. The western willet is 



