. The American sportsman: . -^^^y^-^StSifyU, r^ t*. CHAPTER XXI. SEMIPALMATED SNIPE, WILLET, OK STONE-CURLEW. SCOLOPAXSEMIPALMATA. HABITS, DESCRIPTION, ETC. S before stated, the snipe family is ex-tremely numerous throughout this coun-try, and the number and variety ofbirds of this species that flock to oursea-coast during the summer and autumnis almost incredible. Among these shore or bay fowls thereis none more conspicuous or more soughtafter than the one now under considera-tion. The shrill and incessant cry of the willet is well known to 299. 300 lewiss AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. every frequenter
. The American sportsman: . -^^^y^-^StSifyU, r^ t*. CHAPTER XXI. SEMIPALMATED SNIPE, WILLET, OK STONE-CURLEW. SCOLOPAXSEMIPALMATA. HABITS, DESCRIPTION, ETC. S before stated, the snipe family is ex-tremely numerous throughout this coun-try, and the number and variety ofbirds of this species that flock to oursea-coast during the summer and autumnis almost incredible. Among these shore or bay fowls thereis none more conspicuous or more soughtafter than the one now under considera-tion. The shrill and incessant cry of the willet is well known to 299. 300 lewiss AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. every frequenter of the salt marshes throughout the States oiNew York, New Jersey, and Delaware; and this familiarity withthe peculiar call of this wary bird is turned to terrible accountagainst them, as they are easily deceived and decoyed within reachof the treacherous gun by the skilful imitations of the shooters. The willet is not known in England, nor is there any bird inthe country with which it may be said to correspond. Temmick,however, notices it as an accidental straggler among the birds ofEurope. Willets come from the South about the middle of April,and soon make preparations for laying; their nests are built inthe marshes, upon the tussocks and other little eminences of earthand herbage that are scattered about in the dryer places. Thenest generally contains four tapering dark-colored eggs, which, likethose of the mud-hen, are said to be good eating; in fact, weknow them to be very excellent, as we have partaken of them,although we did not as
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjecthunting, bookyear1885
