266 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



This is not a very common visitor to our shores. It is known under the various popular 

 names of Tilt, Stilt, Longshanks and Lawyer. The origin of this last popular name (which 

 is most in use), I have not been able to discover : there appears to be nothing unusual in the 

 length of its bill. It ranges from the equator to the 41st degree of north latitude, its extreme 

 northern range terminating in this State. It breeds in the adjacent State of New-Jersey, and 

 possibly here, although I have no positive evidence on the subject. The eggs are yellowish, 

 blotched and lined with black. It is a shore bird,- living upon small fishes, crabs, insects and 

 worms. Many are winter residents in Florida and Louisiana. It appears every where to be 

 a rare species. 



GENUS RECUItVIROSTRA. Linnaeus. 



Bill long, very slender, depressed, turned upwards from the middle to the tip, and much 

 longer than the tarsus. Mandibles subequal, and furrowed on each side at the base. Hind 

 toe very short, articulated high up, and not touching the ground. Anterior toes webbed to 

 the second joint. 



THE AMERICAN AVOSET. 



RECURVIROSTRA AMERICANA. 



PLATE CII. FIGS. 227, 229 (Sdmmer and winter). 



(STATE COLLECTION. CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 



Recurvirostra americana. Linn.5:us, Syst. Nat. p. 256. 



American Avoset. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 502. 



R. id. Leach, Zool. Misc. Vol. 3, p. 113, pi. 101. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol.7, p. 120, pi. 63, fig. 2. 



R. id. Rich. F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 345. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 345. 



R. id. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 24, pi. 353. Gieaud, Birds of Long island, p. 269. 



Characteristics. White : tail tinged with pale ash ; back and wings black. Summer : 

 Head and neck pale rufous. Winter, these parts white. Length, 18" 0. 



Description. Bill slender, flattened, tapering to a delicate point, recurved, longer than 

 the tarsus. Upper mandible turned down at the tip. Tibia half naked. Tarsus compressed, 

 3-7 long. 



Color. Summer and autumn : Head, neck and breast light reddish buff, deeper on the 

 back of the neck. Face, space round the eye, ridge of the wings, outer scapulars, tips of 

 the greater coverts, inner webs and outer margins of the secondaries, back, abdomen, vent 

 and thighs white. Interior scapulars, coverts and quills brownish black. Upper tail-coverts 

 dark at their base. Bill black. Legs blue. In this State it is represented by figure 229. 

 In the Cabinet of the Lyceum is a specimen labelled " Male Avoset, shot October 29, on 



