28 
WILLET. 
blotched with blackish brown, particularly at the great end. In 
some the ground color has a tinge of green ; in others of bluish. 
They are excellent eating, as I have often experienced when 
obliged to dine on them in my hunting excursions through the 
salt marshes. The young are covered with a gray-colored down ; 
run off soon after they leave the shell ; and are led and assisted in 
their search of food by the mother ; while the male keeps a con- 
tinual watch around for their safety. 
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-ivill-xviUet; and uttering at times a loud click- 
ing note, as he approaches nearer to their nest. As they occasion- 
ally alight, and slowly shut their long white wings speckled with 
black, they have a mournful note, expressive of great tenderness. 
During the term of incubation, the female often resorts to the sea 
shore, where, standing up to the belly in water, she washes and 
dresses her plumage, seeming to enjoy great satisfaction from these 
frequent ablutions. She is also at other times seen to wade more 
in the water than most of her tribe ; and when wounded in the 
wing will take to the water without hesitation, and swims tolera- 
bly well. 
The eggs of the Willet, in every instance which has come 
under my observation, are placed during incubation in an almost 
upright position, with the large end uppermost ; and this appears 
to be the constant practice of several other species of biids that 
breed in these marshes. 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 cla- 
mours. It is worthy of remark, that among the various birds that 
breed in these marshes, a mutual respect is paid to each other’s 
