SEMI-PALMATED SNIPE. 
319 
the upper mandible, and wrinkled at the base ; crown, back, 
and scapulars, bright reddish rust, spotted with black ; wing- 
coverts, pale olive ; quills, darker ; the first tipt, the latter 
crossed with white ; front, cheeks, hindhead, and sides of the 
neck, quite round; also the breast, grayish white, marked 
with small specks of black ; belly, white, marked with a broad 
crescent of black ; tail, pale olive, the two middle feathers 
centred with black ; legs and feet, ashy black ; toes, divided 
to their origin, and bordered with a slightly scalloped mem- 
brane ; irides, very dark. 
The males and females are nearly alike in one respect, both 
differing greatly in colour, even at the same season, probably 
owing to difference of age ; some being of a much brighter 
red than others, and the plumage dotted with white. In the 
month of September many are found destitute of the black 
crescent on the belly ; these have been conjectured to be 
young birds. 
SEMI-PALMATED SNIPE. — SCOLOPAX SEMIPALMATA. 
Plate LVI. Fig. 3. 
Arct. Zool. p. 469, No. 380. — Peale's Museum, No. 3942. 
TOTANUS SEMIPALMATUS. — Temminck.* 
Chevalier semi-palme, Totanus semipalmatus, Temm. Man. d' Orn. ii. p. 637 
Totanus crassirostris, Vieill. winter plumage, auct. Bonap. — Bonap. Cat. p. 26. 
This is one of the most noisy and noted birds that inhabit 
our salt marshes in summer. Its common name is the Willet, 
by which appellation it is universally known along the shores 
of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, — in all 
of which places it breeds in great numbers. 
* Wilson has figured the winter dress of this curious species, and the Prince 
of Musignano has signified his intention of representing its other states. It 
is admitted as an accidental straggler among the species of Europe by Tem- 
minck. — Ed. 
