62 



Long-billed curlew— Willet. 



with various other waders ; and, at high water, roam along the 

 marshes. They fly high, and with great rapidity. A few are seen 

 in June and as late as the beginning of July, when they generally 

 move off toward the north. Their appearance on these occasions 

 is very interesting. They collect together from the marshes, as if 

 by premeditated design, rise to a great height in the air, usually 

 an hour before sunset, and, forming in one vast line, keep up a 

 constant whistling on their way to the north, as if conversing with 

 one another to render the journey more agreeable." This species 

 is nineteen inches long and thirty-two inches broad. 



PLATE XL VI. 



The Long-billed Curlew--Sickle-bill. {Numenius longirostris.) 



Fig. i. 



This is one of our abundant, and by sportsmen highly prized 

 game-birds, which is at home in most parts of the North American 

 continent. Its northern range is the Saskatchewan and the length 

 of the British provinces, where they retire to breed, rearing its 

 young, to the southern border. It is known by its long bill, and 

 loud, short whistling note, resembling the word kurlew, from whence 

 it derives its name. A good imitation of this note, it is said, may 

 entice a whole flock within gunshot. It affords splendid sport to 

 the shooter, and as a delicacy is equal to the Golden Plover. 



" It is by no means confined to the vicinity of the water," says 

 Dr. Coues, " but, on the contrary, is often seen on extensive dry 

 plains, where it feeds on various mollusks, insects, and berries, 

 which it deftly secures with its extraordinarily long bill. The 

 length and curve of this member, measuring sometimes eight or 

 nine inches in length, gives the bird a singular and unmistakable 

 appearance, either in flight or when gathering its food. Its voice 

 is sonorous and not at all musical. During the breeding season, 

 in particular, its harsh cries of alarm resound when the safety of 

 its nest or j^oung is threatened. In the fall, when food is plenty, 

 it becomes very fat, and affords delicate eating." 



Dr. Newberry found the Curlew quite abundant in the vicinity 

 of San Francisco and throughout the Sacramento valley, during 

 the autumn and winter, though there were comparatively few in 

 the summer before the rainy season. " In our march," he adds, 

 " through the Sacramento valley and northward, we did not meet 

 with it until we came down into the plains bordering Pitt river, 

 above the upper canon. Here we found them in immense num- 

 bers, and they formed a valuable addition to our bill of fare. This 

 prairie is entirely covered with water during the wet season, as is 

 proven by the myriads of aquatic shells (planorbis, fihysa, etc.) 

 scattered over the ground in the grass, and as it does not dry up 

 so completely as the other valleys, the Curlews apparently pass 

 the summer there. Around the Klamath lakes and others of that 

 group they were abundant in August, and we found them asso- 

 ciated with the Geese and other water-birds, which were congre- 

 gated in countless numbers on the low lands bordering the Colum- 

 bia, in October." 



This species is twenty-five and one-half inches long, and thirty- 

 eight inches broad. 



The Willet, Semipalmated Tatiler, or Stone Snipe. (Totanus semi- 



fialmatus.) 



Fig. 2. 



This is one of our well-known and abundant species of sporting 

 bird. It is familiar to the general public by the name of Willet, 



derived from its shrill cries, like the syllables 'fill willet, 'lit fill 

 willet. It is distributed through most all parts of North America, 

 and breeds where it may find a suitable place ; most generally it 

 is near the water of some secluded pool, or in the midst of a marsh. 

 It generally passes its winters within the tropics and along the 

 shores of the Mexican gulf, arriving in the Middle States early in 

 April, from which time to the early part of August its noisy cry 

 can be heard along the marshes for a great distance — Wilson says 

 "of more than half a mile." The same authority says: "The 

 anxiety and affection manifested by these birds for their eggs and 

 young are truly interesting. A person no sooner enters the marshes 

 than he is beset by the Willets, flying around and skimming over 

 his head, vociferating with great violence their common cry of 

 ■pill-will-willet, and uttering at times a loud, clicking note, as he 

 approaches nearer to their nest. As they occasionally alight, and 

 slowly shut their long white wings, speckled with black, they have 

 a mournful note, expressive of great tenderness. . . . During 

 the laying season, the Crows are seen roaming over the marshes 

 in search of eggs, and, wherever they come, spread consternation 

 and alarm among the Willets, who, in united numbers, attack and 

 pursue them with loud clamors. It is worthy of remark, that 

 amon<r the various birds that breed in these marshes, a mutual 

 respect is paid to each other's eggs ; and it is only from intruders 

 from the land side, such as crows, jays, weasels, foxes, minx, and 

 man himself, that these affectionate tribes have most to dread." 

 As soon as the young are able to fly, the brood, with the parent 

 birds, roam together in a flock, and make frequent visits to the 

 pools and ditches near the beach, where they usually pass their 

 time wading about in the water, in search of food, which consists 

 of marine worms, small shell-fish, mollusks, and other aquatic 

 insects. 



" Under ordinary circumstances," says Dr. Coues, " Willets are 

 notoriously restless, wary, and noisy birds ; but their nature is 

 changed, or, at any rate, held in abeyance, during and for a short 

 time after incubation. They cease their cries, grow less uneasy, 

 become gentle, if still suspicious, and may generally be seen 

 stalking quietly about the nest. When Willets are found in that 

 humor — absent-minded, as it were, absorbed in reflection upon 

 their engrossing duties, and unlikeby to observe anything not di- 

 rectly in front of their bill — it is pretty good evidence that they 

 have a nest hard by. It is the same with Avocets, and probably 

 many other waders. During incubation, the bird that is 'oft' 

 duty ' (both parents are said to take turns at this) almost always 

 indulges in revery, doubtless rose-tinted, and becomes in a corre- 

 sponding degree oblivious to outward things. If then they are 

 not set upon in a manner entirely too rude and boisterous, the in- 

 quiring ornithologist could desire no better opportunity than he 

 will have to observe their every motion and altitude. But once 

 let them become thoroughly alarmed by too open approach, par- 

 ticularly if the setting bird be driven from her nest, and the scene 

 quickly shifts ; there is a great outcry, violent protest, and tumult, 

 where was quietude. Other pairs, nesting near by, join their cries 

 till the confusion becomes general. But now, again, their actions 

 are not those they would show at other times ; for, instead of flying 

 off* with the instinct of self-preservation, to put distance between 

 them and danger, they are held by some fascination to the spot, 

 and hover around, wheeling about, flying in circles a little way to 

 return again, with unremitting clamor. They may be only too 

 easily destroyed under such circumstances, provided the orni- 

 thologist can lay aside his scruples and steel himself against sym- 

 pathy. 



"The half-webbing of the toes renders this species something of 

 a swimmer, if necessity arise ; but it only takes to water beyond 

 its depth under urgent circumstances. In size, as well as in 

 plumage, it is very variable ; the length :>f the legs, particularly, 

 varies in different individuals to a surprising degree." 



