196 
CHARADRI I FORMES 
Distribution. North and South America. Breeding from Nova Scotia in the east 
and the prairies in the west, southwards. Only a single record, from near Victoria, for 
British Columbia. 
SUBSPECIES . The Eastern Willet (le Chevalier & ailes blanches de l’Est) Catop- 
trophorus semipalmatus semipalmatus occurs on the Atlantic coast and the Western Willet 
(le Chevalier & ailes blanches de l’Ouest) Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus, slightly 
paler, in the interior and westward. 
The case of the Eastern Willet has furnished us with a good object 
lesson in what may be accomplished by practical conservation. Up to a 
few years ago the Willet was deemed extinct north of Virginia. About 
1916 the existence of a few breeding pairs on the Nova Scotia coast was 
called to our attention. Efforts to preserve them were made by special 
officers, admirably seconded by local residents, especially the late H. A. 
P. Smith, of Digby. The birds began to increase immediately and the 
future of this once depleted eastern race is hopeful. The Western Willet 
is not an uncommon bird on our prairies today, but, like the Godwit and 
the Long-billed Curlew, it offers great temptation to the occasional pot- 
hunter, and unless he can be controlled it is doubtful how long the Willet 
will survive in appreciable numbers. It is one of the three big waders that 
are so characteristic of the great prairies, the other tw T o being the Marbled 
Godwit and the Long-billed Curlew. It loves to stand on the edge of the 
muddy water, and raise its striking black and white wings, banner-like, 
over its back, and pose spectacularly. Passing by in the bright sunshine, 
its white barred wings flash like a heliograph message. The most character- 
istic note is a long, musically whistled “Pill-will-willet.” Sometimes this 
is heard on a still night, and when broken and softened by distance it 
sounds remarkably like the mournful plaint of the Whip-poor-will. 
254. Greater Yellow-legs, greater tell-tale, le grand chevalier X pattes 
jaunes. Totanus melanoleucus. L, 14. Plate XXV A. A large, graceful wader, prac- 
tically black and white in fine pattern, with long yellow legs. 
Distinctions. Size, long yellow legs, and the lack of any huffy or rusty anywhere mark 
the yellow-legs. In autumn, the breast marks may be veiled and indistinct. Almost 
identical in coloration with the Lesser Yellow-legs, from which it is best separated by 
size. The bill of this species, especially the lower line of the under mandible, is very slightly 
upturned, but that of the Lesser is straight (Figure 280, compare with 281). 
Field Marks. Long, slender, yellow legs entire lack of ochraceous or warm brown 
colours, and the large amount of white on tail and rump. When once acquainted with it, 
its flight is quite recognizable and its musically whistled notes are distinctive. The 
two yellow r -legs are separable by size and by the slightly up-turned bill of this species. 
Both yellow-legs, together with the Solitary Sandpiper, have the strange habit of nodding 
and teetering. This consists, at irregular but frequent intervals, of a quick, spasmodic 
nodding of the head, or a momentary flexure of the legs and a simultaneous tilting upward 
