3 66 



The Plover-like Birds 



Alberta. The first set was placed in an old nest of the Robin, at a height of 

 fifteen feet, the second in the nest of a Bronzed Grackle and in a low tree, and 

 the third in a Cedar Waxwing's nest only five feet from the water by which the 

 tree was surrounded* all were in or near wet swamps. According to Raine, 

 the eggs are quite unlike those of any other American Sandpiper, being pale 

 greenish white rather thickly spotted, especially at the larger end, with purple 

 brown, vandyke brown, and purplish gray; the average size is 1.36 by .99 inch. 

 Very like the last in appearance, but having the upper tail-coverts pure white 

 instead of dusky barred with white, is the Green Sandpiper (T. ochropus) of 

 northern Europe and Asia, which is chiefly remarkable on account of its peculiar 

 nesting habits. Instead of building the usual rude nest on the ground, it places 

 its four handsome eggs in the deserted nests of other birds, such as Thrushes, 

 Blackbirds, and Jays, often at a considerable height from the ground, though 

 usually not far from a pond or other body of fresh water. 



Willet. Closely related to the last genus, but distinguished by having the 

 inner and middle, as well as the middle and outer, toes webbed, is the genus 



Catoplrophorus, including only 

 the monotypic North Ameri- 

 can Willet (C. semipalmatus}, 

 which is so called from its con- 

 tinuously repeated alarm cry 

 of pilly-will-willet, pilly-will- 

 willet. They are large birds, 

 from fifteen to seventeen 

 inches long, brownish gray 

 barred with dusky above and 

 white below, the fore rieck 

 streaked, and the breast and 



sides heavily barred or spotted 

 with dusky ; there is also a con- 

 spicuous white wing patch. In 

 the winter plumage the upper 

 parts are unmarked brownish 

 gray and the lower parts im- 

 maculate white. The west- 



FIG. 123. Willet, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus. 



ern form (C. s. inornatus), separated on the basis of its slightly larger size and 

 paler, less heavily marked summer plumage, is confined to the western United 

 States, breeding from Texas to Manitoba, and spending the winter mainly along 

 the Gulf coast. The Willets are found in flocks in the vicinity of both salt and 

 fresh water, but especially the salt marshes and shoals, where they may often 

 be seen wading about in the shallow water. They are shy, watchful birds, not 

 easily decoyed, and enjoying a swift, graceful flight, which is made conspicuous 

 by the white wing patches. If the nest is approached, the birds fly wildly about 

 or hover over the intruder, " vociferating with great violence," and at times they 

 become a great nuisance to sportsmen from giving the alarm to all birds within 



