THE SEMIPALMATED SNIPE, OR WILLET. 325 



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 fisher- 

 man gunner by the name of "Willet;" and from the Carolinas southward 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 company with the Great 

 Marbled Godwit. The Willets were all paired and very clamorous, although 

 we found none of their nests. To my great surprise, I saw them alight on 

 the bushes and trees with as much ease as if they had been land birds, stand 

 erect, open their wings to the sun, and await our approach, exhibiting, when 

 thus perched, much less shyness than when on the ground. Until then I had 

 never observed such a habit in this bird, and indeed had felt surprised at 

 seeing the Bartramian Sandpiper, Tringa Bartramia, alight on fences and 

 trees. Nothing of this kind is mentioned by Wilson, who, however, speaks 

 of both species as if he were well acquainted with their habits. A few days 

 after my visit to the Duck Keys, some nests containing eggs were found on 

 other islets not far distant. 



Along the shores of the Carolinas, this species begins to lay about the 

 beginning of April; but in the Middle States, in New Jersey, for example, 

 it seldom makes its appearance before the 15th of April, and does not begin 

 to breed until a month later. At the approach of the love season, the Willets 

 shew a great degree of vivacity, ramble much on wing, and fill the air with 

 their sharp cries. Once mated, they attend to the security of their eggs and 

 brood with affectionate care, and are silent until disturbed by the approach 

 of some of their numerous enemies. The sight of a Crow, a Turkey Buz- 

 zard, a quadruped of any kind, and more especially of a gunner, at once 

 excites the greatest alarm; and, rising on wing, they fly above and around 

 you at a considerable distance, vociferating their anger with great vehemence, 

 and continually endeavouring to allure you away from the spot where their 

 treasure is concealed. Should they have young broods, they not unfrequent- 

 ly alight within sight, emit clicking and querulous notes, raise their wings 

 upright, and run over the ground as if wounded, moving in so pitiable a 

 manner as frequently to excite a good feeling towards them in the gunner, 



Vol. V. 46 



