362 CHARADRIIDZ. 
Cozumel I., Holbox I. (Gaumer 14 25); Guatemata (Constancia '°, °+), San José 14, 
Chiapam 23 (0. S.); Honpuras, Ruatan I. (Gaumer !+ 25); Nicaragua, Momotombo 
(Richardson 4); Costa Rica, Rio Frio (Richmond ®), Las Trojas (Zeledon ®) ; 
Panama (M‘Zeannan ?°).—Guianal4; Amazons!4; Peru !*; Gaxapacos Is. 4; 
ANTILLES 14, 
This Stilt is rather plentifully distributed over some of the Western and Gulf 
States of North America, breeding in South-eastern Oregon and on the Great Salt Lake 
southwards to ‘Texas and Florida. The species appears to be migratory in Central 
America, as Grayson states *! that it arrives at Mazatlan in October and remains till 
April, during which season it is abundant. Most of our specimens have been procured 
during the winter months, but Mr. Richardson obtained one in Nicaragua on the 29th 
of May !4, and Dr. Gaumer met with two individuals on Cozumel Island in June 4, 
In Guatemala, Salvin noticed it in some numbers at Chiapam, on the Pacific side, 
but there the species was in small flocks 23. 
In North America, H. mexicanus is generally seen in small parties on the shores of 
inland lakes and on the flats near the sea-shore. The long legs and stalking gait 
make it a conspicuous object, and the flight is also noteworthy, as the bird turns 
its black back and pure white under surface alternately to the light. It has the 
habit of wading out to a considerable distance, often plunging its head and neck 
under water in pursuit of prey, which consists of small crustacea, worms, insécts, &c. 
The nest is sometimes a small structure of straw and grass just raised above the 
level of the water, but is generally a slight depression in the sand!*. The eggs are 
three or four in number, and are described as having the ground-colour drab, 
brownish-olive, occasionally rufous, blotched and spotted with brownish-black }. 
RECURVIROSTRA. 
Recurvirestra, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 256 (1766) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiv. p. 326 
(1896). 
The Avocets are long-legged birds like the Stilts, but they are easily recognizable 
from the latter, not only by the upturned form of the bill, but by the presence of a 
hind toe and an interdigital web connecting the front toes. The legs are not 
abnormally developed as in the Stilts, but they are, nevertheless, decidedly long, and 
the tarsus is twice the length of the middle toe and claw. The bill is smooth 
throughout, tapering gradually to a very slender tip, which is turned upwards, but 
the genys, or under surface of the lower mandible, is curiously flattened, and is used 
for scattering the sand as the birds search for their food. 
Four species of Recurvirostra are known, of which one, R. americana, is found 
within our limits. 
