SEMIPALMATED SNIPE, OR WILLET. 239 



with most others that build on the marshes, suffers greatly 

 during the period of incubation from the attacks of Crows, 

 Weasels, and Foxes, and other animals, that devour numberless 

 eggs as well as young Willets. 



These Fowls feed on small shell-fish, and the innumerable 

 variety of aquatic insects and worms found on the marshes ; 

 the flesh consequently is sedgy, but not fishy, however. Young 

 Willets are juicy and tender, and perhaps more esteemed than 

 any other of the Shore Birds, and, when cooked properly, are 

 quite passable when no other kind of Game is to be had; in 

 fact, we have heard many of our sporting friends really extol 

 these Birds when served up, and hunt as eagerly after them as 

 if they possessed the delicacy and gamy flavor of the Woodcock. 



AVillets remain with us till October and November, and some- 

 times later, if the weather continues agreeable. They are shot 

 during low tide, on the marshes and flats, and when flying are 

 easily decoyed by imitating their whistle, which is thouglit to 

 resemble the following combinations: Pill-ivill-icillet, ^j^Y^wiYZ- 

 ivillet. 



Shooters most frequently go after these Birds in small boats, 

 on the inlets and guts that intersect the marshes, that they, in 

 common with Curlews, Plover, &c., frequent. 



DESCRIPTION. 



"Length fifteen inches; extent thirty inches; npper parts 

 dark olive brown ; the feathers streaked down the centre, and 

 crossed with waving lines of black; wing coverts light olive- 

 ash, and the whole upper parts sprinkled with touches of dull- 

 yellowish white; primaries black, white at the root half; 

 secondaries white, bordered with brown ; rump dark brown ; 

 tail rounded, twelve feathers pale olive, waved with bars of 

 black ; tail coverts wdiite, barred with olive ; bill pale lead 

 color, becoming black towards the tip ; eye very black ; chin 

 Avhite; breast beautifully mottled with transverse spots of olive 

 on a cream ground ; belly and vent white, the last barred with 

 olive; legs and feet pale lead color; toes half webbed. 



"Towards the fall, when these Birds associate in large flocks, 

 they become of a pale dun color above, the plumage being 



