75 



found in more open situations during the migration period, 

 rarely loosely associated with Yellow-legs. I have never 

 seen it in merely damp places, but it sometimes frequents 

 small temporary streams which . run through meadows. 

 There seems good evidence that this sandpiper breeds spar- 

 ingly from the vicinity of Columbus northward. I have 

 seen individuals in each summer month. Dr. Wheaton 

 found a young bird in the care of its parents near Columbus. 

 The ease with which this species may be confounded with 

 the Spotted Sandpiper may account for its apparent absence 

 during the summer. It has the general appearance, and a 

 note which closely resembles that of the Spotted Sandpiper, 

 but lacks the round spots on the underparts, and has white 

 spots on its back. The white spotted back should positively 

 separate it from the Spotted Sandpiper, and its note should 

 be equally distinctive from the Yellow-legs which also has 

 white dorsal spots. 



This sandpiper reaches Oberlin during the third week of 

 April, and returns south rather late in October. 



101. (258.) SYMPHEMIA sEMiPALrM-ATA (Gmel.). 218. 



Willet. 



Synonyms: Totanus semipalmatus, Scolopax semipalmata. 

 Semipalmated Tattler. 



Kirtland, Ohio Geol, Surv., 1838, 165. 



Besides Dr. Wheaton's records, Dr. Langdon and Mr. 

 Dury are the only ones who report this species. It has not 

 been taken in Lorain county. Dr. Wheaton's statement, 

 clearly based upon Dr. Kirtland's information, that it is 

 "Not a common spring and fall migrant, probably breeds in 

 northern Ohio," indicates that since 1838, when Dr. Kirt- 

 land found it in summer on the lake shore, it has become not 

 only rare but almost extinct. If it still occurs near Cincin- 

 nati it is very rarely. Observers should watch carefully for 

 the birds and report any occurrences. 



