BIRDS—SC0L0PAC1DAE—SYMPHEMIA SEM1PALMATA. 
729 
SYMPHEMIA, Rafinesque* 
Symphemia, Rafinesque, Jour, de Phys. 1819. Type Scolopax semipalmata, Gmolin. 
Catoptrophorus, Bonap. Syn. 1828, 323. Same type. 
Ch. —Bill compressed, very thick, the eulmen rour.ded. The lower mandible scarcely grooved ; the upper grooved to about 
the middle. Culmen slightly convex : gonys ascending. Bill cleft out little beyond base of eulmen. Feathers of sides of both 
mandibles falling short of the nostrils ; the lower rather further forward. Chin feathers reaching to beginning of nostrils. Bill 
longer than head ; about equal to tarsus, which is more than ]g times the middle toe. Both toes webbed ; the emargination of 
inner web as far forward as the middle of basal joint of middle toe ; the outer reaching nearly to the end. Bare portion of 
tibia rather less than middle toe without claw. Tail nearly even, or little rounded, not half the wings. 
SYMPHEMIA SEMIPALMATA, (Gm.) Hartlaub. 
Willet. 
Scolopax semipalmatus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 659.— Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 27; pi. lvi. 
Totanus semipalmatus, Temm. Man.— Bon. Obs 1825; No. 206.—Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831,388; pi. Ixvii.—Aun. Orn. 
Biog. Ill, 1835, 510 : V, 585; pi. 274.—In. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 324 ; pi. 347. 
“ Glottis semipalmatus, Nilsson, Orn. Suec. 1817.’’ 
Totanus (Catoptrophorus) semipalmatus, Bon. Syn. 1828, 328.— Nutt. Man. IT, 1831, 144. 
Symphemia semipalmata, Hartlaub, Rev. Zool. 1845, 342. 
? Totanus spend iferns, “Cuv. R. A. 1817, 2d ed. I, 531.”— Pucheiian, Rev. et Mag. Zool. Ill, 1851, 569. 
Totanus crassirostris, Yiejll. Nouv. Diet. VI, 1816, 406. 
Symphemia allanlica, Raf. Journal de Phys. LXXXVIII, 1819, 417. 
Figures. —Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, pi. 56, fig. 3.—Aud. B. of Am. pi. 274; oct. ed. V, pi. 347.—Rich, and Swains. Faun. Bor. 
Am. Birds, pi. 67.—Gould B. of Eur. IV, pi. 311. 
Sp. Ch. —The largest American species of this genus. Bill longer than the head, straight, rather thick aud strong; groove in 
the upper mandible extending about half its length, in the lower mandible nearly obsolete; wings long; legs long, strong ; toes 
moderate united at base by membranes, the larger of which unites the outer and middle toe; hind toe small; tail short. 
Adult. Entire upper parts dark ash color, (without spots;) the shafts of the feathers brownish black; rump and upper tail 
coverts white. Under parts white, tinged with ashy on the neck and sides; axillaries and under wing coverts brownish black; 
primary quills white at base, and tipped with brownish black ; secondaries white, spotted with brownish black; tail ashy white, 
the two middle feathers strongly tinged with ashy; others spotted with dark ashy brown. Bill dark bluish brown, lighter at 
base; legs light blue. Younger. Entire plumage spotted, and transversely banded with brownish black. 
Total length about 15 inches ; wing, 8£; tail, 3^ ; bill about 2£; tarsus about 2.j inches. 
Hab. —Entire temperate regions of North America; South America. 
This large and handsome species is easily recognized, and is abundant on both the Atlantic 
and Pacific coasts of the republic. There is very considerable difference of color between the 
adult and young birds ; but the white space on the wings is a character always present and 
easily distinguished. It is the largest bird of this group inhabiting the United States. 
The Totanus speculi/erus of Cuvier, according to Pueheran, is very similar to the common 
willet, but stands higher, and has a longer bill; the feet are similar in both. I have been 
unable to appreciate the validity of this distinction in the extensive series before me. 
92 b 
August 10, 1858. 
