10 WADING BIRDS. 



seem to sustain their bodies with difficulty. In this singu- 

 lar posture they will sometimes remain for several minutes, 

 uttering a curring sound, and quivering their wings and 

 long shanks as if in the act of laboriously balancing them- 

 selves on the ground. A great deal of this motion is, how- 

 ever, probably in manoeuvre, to draw the spectators' attention 

 from their nests. 



Although so sedentary in the breeding season, at times 

 they extend their visits to the shores, wading about in the 

 water and mud in quest of their food, which they scoop up 

 with great dexterity. On being wounded, while in the wa- 

 ter, they sometimes attempt to escape by diving, at which, 

 however, they are by no means expert. In autumn, their 

 flesh is tender and well flavored. They depart for the south 

 early in September, and proceed probably to pass the winter 

 in tropical America. 



Length from the extremity of the bill to the end of the tail 14 

 inches, alar extent 28. The bill 3 inches long. Forehead, spot be- 

 hind the eye, lower eyelids, sides of the neck, and all the lower side 

 of the body pure white. Tail nearly even, sullied white. Line 

 before the eye, auriculars, back part of the neck, scapulars and 

 wings, black, with a green gloss. Legs and thighs pale carmine, 

 tliighs 3 inches long. The legs 4^, very thin and elastically flexible. 

 Wings sharp pointed, extending 2 inches beyond the tail. Iris scar- 

 let. — In the female or young, the back, scapulars, and tertials are 

 dark brown. 



STILT, OR LONG-LEGGED PLOVER. 



(^Himantopus melanoptertis, Meyer. Cha7'adrius Idmantopus, Gmelin, Latham, 

 Ind. i. p. 741. sp. 3. L'Echasse, Buffon. Ois. viii p. 114. t. 6.) 



Sp. Chabact. — White ; above, except the neck black ; tail cinereous ; legs ver- 

 milion red, very long. In the old males, all the nape and hind head white. — 

 Female a little smaller, and without green reflections from the black above. — 

 In the young, the feet are orange colored, with the mantle and wings brown, the 

 feathers edged with whitish ; top of the head, occiput, and nape, of a blackish 



