WILLET. 71 



with, a grey- coloured down, run off as soon as freed 

 from tlie shell, and are led about by the mother iri 

 quest of their proper food, while the vociferous 

 male keeps careful watch for their safety. On entering 

 these breeding places, the spectator is beset by the 

 "VYillets flying around, and skimming over his head, 

 with the clamorous cry of ' pill-will- willet/ accompanied 

 at times, Mdien 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 them- 

 selves, appears to be a kind of shrill and plaintive 

 whistle, almost like that of the Curlew. 



The Willet subsists chiefly on small shell-fish, acquatic 

 insects, their larvae, and moUusca, in quest of which 



