CHAPTER :^x. 



SEMIPALMATED SNIPE, WILLET, OR STONE CURLEW. SCOLOPAX 



SEMIPALMATA. 



HABITS, DESCRIPTION, ETC. 



The Snipe family, as before said, is extremely numerous 

 throughout this country, and the number and variety of Birds 

 of this species that flock to our sea-coast during the Summer 

 and Autumn is almost incredible. 



Among these Shore or Bay Fowls there is none more con- 

 spicuous or more sought after than the one now under con- 

 sideration. The shrill and incessant cry of the Willet is well 

 known to every frequenter of the salt marshes throughout the 

 States of New York, New Jersey, and Delaware; and this 

 familiarity with the peculiar call of this wary Bird is turned to 

 fearful account against them, as they are easily deceived and 

 decoyed within reach of the treacherous gun by the imitations 

 of the Gunners. 



The Willet is not known in England, nor have they any 

 Bird with which it might be said to correspond. Temmick, 

 however, notices it as an accidental straggler among the Birds 

 of Europe. Willets come from the South about the middle of 

 April, and soon make preparations for laying; their nests are 

 built in the marshes, upon the tussocks and other little emi- 

 nences of earth and herbage that are scattered about in the 

 drier places. The nest generally contains four tapering dark- 

 colored eggs, and, like those of the Mud-IIen, are said to be 

 good eating ; in fact, we know them to be very excellent, as we 

 have partaken of them, although we did not assist in the de- 

 struction of the nests from which they were taken. This Bird, 



