THE SEMIPALHATED 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 Rloridas 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, exhibit- 
ing, 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. Y. 46 
