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SCOLOPACID^: — THK SNIPE FAMILY — SYMPHEMIA. 



287 



According to Dresser, it was not rare near San Antonio, Texas. He procured exam- 

 ples at the Uoea Grande in July and August, and at King's Hancho, between Mata- 

 iiioMis and Victoria, in September. He saw st^veral in .lune on (ialveston Island, and 

 an example was sent to liini from Fort Stockton. 



The Willet is also found in all, or nearly all, the larger West India Islands. It 

 is given by (Jundlach as a bird of (,'idm. .March speaks of it as of irregular occur- 

 rence in Jamaica, where it is known as the -Spanisli I'lovr," it being not uncommon 

 tliere, in some years, during and after tlie autumnal rains. lie never met with this 

 bird in th'' summer, although he was told that it breeds in Saint Elizabeth. It is 

 referred to by Mr. (xosse. on the authority of .Mr. Hill, as almudant on the island in 

 winter. In 'i"rini(hid, according to L('otaud, it is known as tlie *• White-wing," and it 

 is said to arrive in that island in August, and to leave in October or before. It is 

 always seen in flocks, and these are sometimes of (•onsider;d)le size. It is not known 

 to leave the borders of the sea. The movements and manners of this species are simi- 

 lar to those of the Tntanus fdvipi's, with which it usually associates. Its tiesh is 

 not regarded as generally excellent. A single specimen was shot in Bermuda, .July 

 [>,, 1,S4.S. 



On the New England coast this bird occurs sparingly from Long Island to Calais, 

 .Me., and along the coast of Nova Scotia at least as far as Halifax. I met with it 

 breeding on the small Island of .Muskeget, near Nantucket, Mass. ; and Mr. Board- 

 man informs me that it occurs in the neighborhood of Calais, Me., and that it 

 undoubtedly breeds there, but that it is not very abundant. Dr. Bi'yant noticed 

 it breeding on the coast of Nova Scotia near Yarmouth ; and I have received its 

 eggs from Mr. Andrew Downes, ol)tained near Halifax. It is more common on Long 

 Island, on whose shores, according to Mr. Girauil, it arrives about the 1st of ilay. 

 It is ('(puiUy common along the coast of New Jer.sey, Maryland, and Virginia at 

 aixtut the same ])erio(l. On J.,ong Island it is said to be common, rather than abun- 

 dant, and it is also far from ixdng so j)lentiful as it is at F]gg Harbor, where it is 

 known to breed. Mr. (iiraud was not aware that it had ever been positively ascer- 

 tained to breed on Long Island ; yet as it is known to nest in suitable places along 

 the entire coast from Florida to Halifax, it is hardly ])robal)le that this island, with 

 its favoring extent of sea-coast, is an exception. It builds its nest in New Jersey in 

 tlie latter part of May, in the salt-marshes, among the grass, using for that purjjose 

 rushes and coarse herbage. 



In Florida, according to Mr. ]Moore, the full set of four eggs is laid as early as 

 April L'5. He never found their smaller ends placed towtrd one another. These birds 

 have, as he states, the singular habit of alighting on trees during the breeding-season, 

 evidently for the purpose of viewing their nests and eggs. They perch on dead trees 

 or branches which are near the objects of their solicitude, fifteen or twenty feet from 

 tile earth, and continuously pour out their notes of apprehension, many joining in 

 the clamor, so that the noise may be heard a half mile or more. 



If any one approaches the nest of the Willet during the season of incubation, it 

 is said to rise suddenly from the marsh, to fly wildly around, and to fill the air with 

 its shrill cries, which consist of three notes, repeated with so much force as to be 

 audible for a distance of half a mile ; if not disturbed, however, the breeding-season 

 is passed in silence, Avithout any such manifestations of uneasiness. On Muskeget 

 Lake the parent birds withdrew to a distance, and were not seen again, their nest 

 having been discovered and the eggs taken ; and on another occasion, where eight 

 or ten nests were found by me on an island near Cape Charles, Va., the birds were 

 silent, and were only noticed as they withdrew from the nests. 



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