BLACK-NECKED STILT. 53 



creased in height with the dry twigs of salt marsh shrubs, roots 

 of grass, sea- weed, and any other coarse materials which may 

 be convenient, until the whole may now weigh two or three 

 pounds. The eggs, four in number, are of a dark yellowish 

 drab, thickly marked with large blotches of brownish black. 

 These nests are often situated within fifteen or twenty yards 

 of each other, the respective proprietors living in mutual 

 friendship. 



While the females are sitting, their mates are either wading 

 in the adjoining ponds, or traversing the marshes in the 

 vicinity ; but on the approach of any intruder in their peace- 

 able community, the whole troop assemble in the air, and flying 

 steadily with their long legs extended behind them, keep up a 

 continual yelping note of clicks click, click. Alighting on the 

 marsh, they are often seen to drop their wings, and standing 

 with their legs half bent, and trembling, they seem to sustain 

 their bodies with difficulty. In this singular 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 themselves on the ground. A great deal 

 of this motion is, however, 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 water, 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 Sep- 

 tember, and proceed probably to pass the winter in tropical 

 America. 



The Stilt is a rare bird in this Eastern faunal province, excep- 

 ting in Florida. It is occasionally seen along the sandy beaches of 

 Massachusetts, and a few examples have been taken in Maine and 

 New Brunswick and in Michigan. 



