64 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. ^ 



though he could never find their nests: He notes its resemblance, 

 both in manners and markings, to the Totcmus oGhropvs, or 

 Green Sandpiper, of Europe. 



"Nuttall states that a pair frequented, very familiarly, the, 

 small fish-pond in the Botanic Garden in Cambridge, attracted by 

 larvae that fed on the water-lily. They would trip over the sinking 

 leaves with all the lightness and agility of the Rail." (Bbew'er.) 



In Cook county, Mr. Nelson says that it is a "common mi- 

 grant," arriving the first of May and remaining until about the 

 25th, when the majority go farther north. He says: "I have 

 several times taken yOuhg of this species just able to fly, and 

 have observed the adults throughout the breeding season. I do 

 not think there is the slightest doubt of its breeding in this 

 vicinity. Departs for the south in August and September." 



Genus SYMPHEMIA Rafinesque. 



• SymBhemia BAriNESQUB, Jour, de Phys. yii, 1819, 418. Type, Scolovax semipalmata Gmel. 



CHA.B. Bill compressed, very thick, the oulmen rounded. The lower mandible scarcely 

 grooved, the upper grooved to about the middle. Culmen slightly convex; gonys ascend- 

 ing. Bill cleft but little beyond base of culmen. Feathers of sides of both mandibles fall- 

 ing short of the nostrils, the lower rather farther forward. Chin-feathers reaching to mid- 

 dle of nostrils. Bill longer than head; about equal to tarsus, which is more than one and 

 one halt times the middle toe. Both toes webbed ; the emargination of inner web as far 

 forward as the middle of basal joint oJ middle toe, the outer reaching nearly to the end. 

 Bare portion of tibia rather less than middle toe without claw. Tail nearly even, or a little 

 rounded, not half the wings. 



Symphemia Semipalmata (Gmel.)* 



^ WILLET. 



Scolopax semipalmata GnEJj. S. N. ed. IS, i, 1788, 659.— Wns. Am. Orn. vii, 1813, 27, pi. 56, 

 fig. 3. 

 Totcmus semipajmatus Tbmm. 1828.— Sw.-& ElOH. F. B.-A. ii, 1831, 388, pi. 67.— AuD. Orn. 

 Biog. iii, 1835, 510; v,1839, 685, pi. 574; Synop. 1839, 246; B. Am. v, 1842,324, pi. 347.— 

 > COUES, Key, 1872, 258; Check List. 1874, Nb. 431; Birds N. W. 1874, 494. 



Totanus {Gatoptrophorus) semipalmaius Bonap. 1827.— Nutt. Man. ii, 1834, 144. 

 Symphemia semipalmata Haeti,. Eev. Zool. 1845, 342.— Oass^ in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 

 729.— Baibd, Cat. N. -Am. B. 1859, No. 5S7.— BiDOW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 552; 

 Man. N. Am. B. 1887, 167.— CouBS, Check List, 2d ed. 1882, No. 632.- B. B. & B. Water B. 

 N. Am. i, 1884, 285.— A. 0. U. Check List, 1886, No. 268. 



Hab. Temperate North America, south to Brazil; West Indies. Accidental in Europe, 



8p. Ohab. Largest of American Scolopacidee, except genera Numenius and Limosa. 

 Primaries black, with nearly the basal half white, producing a very conspicuous patch on 

 the spread wing Swmmer adult ; Above, light brownish gray, streaked on head and neck, 



• The western birds have recently {Auk, iv, April, 1887, p. 146,) been sepai-ated by Mr. 

 Brewster as S. semipalmata inorndta. This form occurs in Illinois, but whether the true 

 8. semipalmata does also, I am not at present able to state. 



