The Western Willet 



of Alberta. It seems that, after the well established fashion of its kins- 

 man, the Green Sandpiper (Helodromas ochropus) of Europe, our Solitary 

 Sandpiper deposits its eggs in the deserted nests of Passerine birds, such as 

 Robins, Kingbirds, Jays, Grackles, and the like. Since the original 

 discovery of Mr. Evan Thompson on June 16th, 1903, many sets have 

 come to light, and the observation is fully confirmed. 



No. 248 



Western Willet 



A. O. U. No. 258a. Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus (Brewster). 



Synonyms. — Semipalmated Tattler. Stone Curlew. 



Description. — Adult in summer: Above brownish gray (hair-brown), heavily 

 marked with blackish and ochraceous buff, the black heaviest and streaky on crown, 

 patchy and terminal on back, central and herring-bone-patterned on scapulars, etc.; 

 the -buffy occupying major indentations; greater wing-coverts and secondaries chiefly 

 white, lightly freckled or mottled with dusky; the primaries white basally and black- 

 tipped; upper tail-coverts pale buffy, very lightly barred or mottled with dusky; the 

 tail light hair-brown or dusky-ochraceous, freckled with dusky; underparts palest 

 ochraceous buffy, immaculate on belly, overlaid by light cinnamon on lower neck, 

 breast, sides, and crissum; the throat sparsely dusky-spotted, the lower neck heavily 

 dusky-streaked, the breast and sides heavily dusky-wavy-barred, the sides and under 

 tail-coverts both barred and mottled with dusky; lining of wings brownish black, 

 narrowly tipped with white; the axillars solid black. Bill dusky; feet and legs dark 

 bluish. Adult in whiter: Above nearly uniform blended ashy gray (snipe-gray); 

 the sides of head, neck, and breast, and the sides heavily washed with the same color, 

 and a lighter tinge across the chest; remaining underparts and the upper tail-coverts 

 white or palest buffy. Immature: Like adult in winter, but feathers of back edged 

 with pale ochraceous; the tail dusky-and-white barred; below tinged or faintly mottled 

 with brownish gray on neck, chest, and sides; otherwise unmarked. Length about 

 406.4 (16.00); wing 221 (8.70); tail 83.8 (3.30); bill 62.2 (2.45); tarsus 67.3 (2.65). 



Recognition Marks. — Crow or Curlew size; extensive white on wing (black- 

 and-white) with large size distinctive; feet partially webbed. 



Nesting. — Nest: On the ground or in grass tussock, of grass and weed-stalks- 

 Eggs: 4; greenish white to dark olive-buff or buffy brown, spotted boldly with various 

 shades of umber brown, and with obscure violaceous shell-markings. Av. size 53.3 x 

 39.4 (2.10 x 1.55). Season: May-June; one brood. 



Range of Catoptrophorus semipalmatus. — Temperate North America; south in 

 winter to Brazil and Peru. 



Range of C. s. inornatus. — Western United States and adjoining Canadian 

 Provinces. Breeds in suitable localities from about Latitude 56 in Alberta and Sas- 

 katchewan south to northern California, Texas, and Louisiana; and from eastern 

 Oregon to western Minnesota and northern Iowa. Winters from, the Gulf States and 

 California (sparingly) through Central America to western Ecuador, the Galapagos 

 Islands, and Peru. 



1271 



