286 



PRiECOriAL PiRALLATORKS — LIMICOL.E. 



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grayish. In life, "bill light blue, dusky toward end ; iris brown ; I'pft light blue, claws black" 

 (Audubon). 



Totid length, about 1,5.0()-17.(H> inches ; extent. :.'■).( M)-;}().(J(i ; wing, >^.(MM>.(H» ; cnlmen. 2.30- 

 2.60; tarsus, 2.4()-2.8.j ; middle toe. 1.35-1.40. 



The Willet is one of the most extensively ilistrilmted of all our American l)ir(ls. 

 It is not only found along the entire Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to Florida, and 

 along the entire Gulf coast, but is ccjually almudant on the I'aciiic and through nearly 

 all the marshy regions of the interior; it also occurs throughout Central and South 

 America as far south as the Pampas, where it breeds iij large numbers. Burmeister 

 could find no difference between South American examples of this bird and those 

 from farther north. 



Mr. Nelson refers to this species as being a larc summer resident in the marshes 

 and on the wet prairies of Northeastern Illinois, where it arrives the last of April, 

 leaving l)v the first of October. The same writer afterward found it abundant on tlic 

 shores of Salt Lake, in comj)any with Avocets, where its clamor made it a perfect 

 nuisance to the sportsman. Captain Bendire also noticed it as an abundant summer 

 resident in Southeastern Oregon, where he procured several .sets of its eggs, wliicli 

 began to be laid about the lOth of May. These birds were (piite as abundant in tiie 

 higher mountain valleys, at an altitude of six thousand feet, as they were in the lower 

 regions, apparently frecpienting all marshy localities. Dr. Bryant found this to be 

 an abundant species in the Bahamas, where it was also resident, breeding in all suit- 

 able localities, and being known as the '• Duck Snii)e." 



On the Pacific coast, according to Dr. Cooper, it is one of the most common of the 

 shore-birds, especially in the southern portions of California and about San Fran- 

 cisco, in the market of M'hich it is plentiful all the year round. Although no nests 

 had been found, there could be no doubt that it breeds abundantly in that State, as 

 Dr. Cooper had met with fledged young at San Pedro early in July. It frequents 

 the marshy ground, both on the coast and in the interior toward the north, but none 

 were seen on the Colorado. According to Dr. Heermann, they are found along Hum- 

 boldt River. Mr. Ridgway found the Willet in June breeding alniiulantly on tiic 

 grassy flats on the southern shores of Great Salt Lake, in company with the Long- 

 billed Curlew. It was found in considerable numbers on the shores of small saline 

 lakes near the Saskatchewan by Richardson, but is not known to range in the sum- 

 mer any farther north than the 56th parallel, occurring only in the interior. 



Mr. Salvin speaks of this species as occurring in Guatemala, where it was quite 

 common at Chiapam, as well as on all the lagoons along the entire Pacific coast. 



