BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 313 



WESTERN WILLET (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inomatus). 



Length. — Averaging larger than the Willet; bill longer and more slender 2.25 

 to 2.75 inches. 



Adult in Summer. — Like Willet, but markings above "fewer, fainter and 

 finer," on a lighter ground; less heavily marked below. 



Adult and Young in Winter. — Similar to Willet; can be distinguished only 

 by measurement. 



Field Marks. — Sometimes much grayer than the Willet, but cannot be dis- 

 tinguished with certainty in the field. 



Season. — Fall migrant mainly coastwise. 



Range. — Western North America. Breeds from central Oregon, southern 

 Alberta and southern Manitoba south to northern California, central 

 Colorado, southern South Dakota and northern Iowa, and on coasts of 

 Texas and Louisiana; winters from central California, Texas, Louisiana 

 and Gulf coast of Florida to Mexico (Lower California, Tepic and 

 Guerrero) ; in fall migration occurs in British Columbia and on Atlantic 

 coast from New England south. 



History. 

 The Western Willet, a subspecies of the Willet, comes here 

 occasionally, if not regularly, in the fall flight. The following 

 note from Mr. A. C. Bent, of Taunton, Mass., who has been 

 investigating the status of this species, is pertinent here. 

 "This bird is increasing. There was a very heavy flight this 

 year (1908). I believe all, or practically all, of the Willets 

 shot in Massachusetts during the past few years have been 

 Western Willets; all that I have examined are referable to 

 the western form. I believe that many of the western-bred 

 shore birds and Ducks have been forced to migrate farther 

 eastward, owing to the settling of the middle west and the 

 draining and destruction of their feeding grounds in the Mis- 

 sissippi valley, and that they seek the Atlantic coast by the 

 shortest route rather than make the long overland flight to 

 the Gulf of Mexico." Mr. Bent's belief may be warranted by 

 his observations, but to my mind it seems more probable that 

 such flights of western birds to the east always have occurred, 

 but have not been so much noted until the eastern birds began 

 to decrease. Since then the increase in the number of such 

 competent ornithologists as Mr. Bent has resulted in a more 

 accurate knowledge of these flights. 



