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THE SEMIPALMATED SNIPE, OR WILLET. 



Tot ANUS semipalmatus, Temm. 



PLATE CCLXXIV. Male akd Female. 



Many individuals of this fine species spend the winter in our Southern 

 States, and the extent of its migration northwards is comparatively limit- 

 ed. Some are occasionally seen as far eastward as the neighbourhood of 

 Boston, and a few have been known to breed not far from New Bedford in 

 Massachusetts ; but beyond that state the species may be said to be un- 

 known. Their propensity to remain at all seasons in the immediate vici- 

 nity of the coast is such, that they are very seldom met with far inland, 

 even along large rivers, on the margins of which they might find the food 

 they usually prefer. I once shot one in autumn on the lower part of the 

 Ohio, but it was much emaciated, and I concluded that its appearance 

 there was merely accidental. From the mouth of the Mississippi -to New 

 York it is pretty generally found during the breeding season ; but all the 

 individuals betake themselves in winter to the shores of Carolina, Georgia, 

 Florida, and the countries bordering the Mexican Gulf. I have very 

 little doubt that those seen by Mr Say on the banks of the Missouri had 

 accidentally visited that country, as the favourite haunts of this species at 

 all seasons are the salt-marshes and sea-shores. It is well ascertained that 

 it occurs on the western coast, and I have seen many skins of it recently 

 brought from the mouth of the Columbia River. It is probably from 

 thence that it migrates to the shores of the Saskatchewan, where it was 

 observed by Dr Richardson along the small saline lakes. 



In the Middle States, the Semipalmated Snipe is known to every fish- 

 erman gunner by the name of " Willet ;" and from the Carolinas south- 

 ward by that of " Stone Curlew."" In the latter districts, during autumn 

 and winter, it resorts to the stony shores of estuaries, the banks of racoon 

 oysters, and the extensive salt-marshes so common there along the coast. 

 On the 1st of May 1832, while rambling over some large and partially 

 submersed islets of the Floridas called Duck Keys, scantily covered with 

 bushes and some mangroves, I saw a good number of these birds in com- 

 pany with the Great Marbled Godwit. The Willets were all paired 

 and very clamorous, although we found none of their nests. To my grea 



