WILLET. 17 



^'The eggs, four in number, are very thick at the larger end, and 

 tapering at the opposite, and measure over two inches in length, by- 

 one and a half in the greatest breadth. They are of a pale, bright, 

 greenish olive, (sometimes darker,) largely blotched and touched with 

 irregular spots of a bright blackish brown of two shades, mixed with 

 a few other smaller touches of a paler tint, the whole most numerous 

 at the larger end. According to Wilson, the eggs are very palatable 

 as food. The young, covered with a grey- coloured down, run off as 

 soon as freed from the shell, and are led about by the mother in 

 quest of their proper food, whUe the vociferous male keeps careful 

 watch for their safety. On entering these breeding places, the spectator 

 is beset by the Willets flying around, and skimming over his ' head, 

 with the clamorous cry of *^pill-will-willet,' accompanied at times, 

 when much excited and alarmed by an approach to the nest, with a 

 loud clicking note, in the manner of the Avocet. Exhausted with 

 their vigilant and defensive exertions, at times, they utter a sad and 

 plaintive tone, and occasionally alighting, slowly close their long, 

 silvery, parti-coloured wings, as if acting a part to solicit compassion. 

 Among their most common and piratical enemies are the Crows, 

 who roam over the marshes in quest of eggs, and as soon as they 

 appear, are attacked by the Willets in united numbers, who with 

 loud vociferations pursue them off the ground. 



^^ During the term of incubation, the female, fatigued with her task, 

 and occasionally leaving her eggs to the influence of the ardent sun, 

 resorts to the shore, and, deeply wading, washes and dresses her 

 plumage, frequently emerging, and performing her ablutions with an 

 air of peculiar satisfaction. Indeed the Willets generally wade more 

 than most of their tribe, and, when disabled from flying by a wound, 

 they take to the water without hesitation, and swim with apparent ease. 

 The peculiar note which characterizes and gives the name to this 

 Chevalier is only uttered by adults; and the call of the young when 

 associated by themselves, appears to be a kind of shrill and plaintive 

 whistle, almost like that of the Curlew. 



"The Willet subsists chiefly on small shell-fish, aquatic insects, their 

 larvae, and moUusca, in quest of which it constantly resorts to the 

 muddy shores and estuaries at low water. 



^'In the fall, when the flocks of young birds associate together, which 

 may easily be known by the greyness of their plumage, they are 

 selected by the gunners in preference to the older and darker birds, 

 being tender, fat, and fine-flavoured game. In the months of October 

 and November they gradually pass on to their winter quarters in the 

 warmer parts of the continent. Transient flocks of young, bred in 



VOL. V, P 



