HIMANTOPUS NIGRICOLLIS, BLACK-NECKED STILT. 465 



Except ill tliis last respect, its range may be said, in general terms, to 

 be nearly the same as that of the Avocet, with which it often associates. 

 It breeds wherever found in summer, and is a migratory bird, departing 

 for the South in autunni, to spend the winter. 



While at Los Pinos, New Mexico, late in June, 1864, I had an excel- 

 lent opportunity of studying the habits of the Stilts. There are large 

 shallow "lagunas" near this place, whose muddy flats and reedy margins 

 are well adapted to the Avauts of these birds, as well as other waders, 

 particularly Avocets, and a few Ducks, chiefly Mallards. The Stilts had 

 evidently bred there, though I found no nests or very young birds. 

 They were in flocks of twenty or thirty, keeping closely together. All 

 those I shot appeared to be in perfect plumage, with greenish-black 

 backs, this color running in full intensity up the back of the neck, black 

 bills, crimson eyes, and carmine or lake-red legs. They offered a very 

 striking and pleasing effect, wheeling in easy flight, the flock appearing 

 one moment black, the next white, as they showed alternately the upper 

 and under parts, with the long bright-tinted legs heightening the con- 

 trast of color. Although not heedless or unduly familiar, they were not 

 very shy, and I secured as many as I wished without much trouble. 

 Besides being almost unacquainted with the danger that may lie in 

 man's approach, they appeared of a gentle, nusnspicious nature, the 

 more noticeable in contrast with the restlessness and watchfulness of 

 most waders. Thus I remember to have approached, on one occasion, 

 within a dozen paces of a large flock, with no other artifice than stoop- 

 ing a little and walking quietly and slowly. The birds had observed me, 

 of course, as the grass was only a few inches high and the ground per- 

 fectly flat, but they stood motionless, looking with more of curiosity 

 than fear. It was a picturesque group ; still as statues the birds stood 

 in the water, raised only a little above it, on their firm, though so slen- 

 der, supports, their trim bodies drawn up to full height, and their large, 

 soft eyes dilated in wonder. In an instant, however, as if they had but 

 one mind iu common, a thought occurred, and quick as the thought they 

 were off. A flash— a report — the leaden pellets followed after; the 

 thinned ranks kept on, with piteous cries, while the stricken ones 

 dropped heavily into the water and lay motionless, or fluttered helpless 

 with broken wings, vainly essaying to dive. I had to wade into the 

 water to secure the specimens, which, however, was of little consequence, 

 as I was already wet and muddy to the waist ; picked up the dead ones 

 from the crimsoned water, and had an exciting chase after the wounded. 

 It was painful to witness their struggles, and 1 almost wished they could 

 be restored to the health and pleasure they had enjoyed up to the last 

 moment. But the mischief was not to be undone, and it was the part 

 of mercy then to put those still living out of their pain. This I did, 

 and, resolving to use all my specimens to the best advantage and take 

 no more innocent lives, I left the Stilts to their peaceful occupations. 



The wings of the Stilt are very long and i)ointed, as well as ample in 

 width ; its flight, in consequence, is firm, vigorous, and swift. When 

 folded they reach beyond the tip of the tail, and as the under-coverts 

 reach to the end, the bird tapers olf behind to a fine point. The black 

 shorter quills and secondaries meet across the back, hiding the white 

 rump and tail. On the ground, whether walking or wading, the bird 

 moves gracefully, with measured steps ; the long legs arc much bent at 

 each step (only at the joint, however!), and planted firmly, perfectly 

 straight ; except under certain circumstances, as those Wilson narrates, 

 there is nothing vacillating, feeble or unsteady, either in the attitudes 

 or movements of the birds. When feeding, the legs are bent backward 

 30 



