BECUBVIBOSTRIDJE : AVOCETS AND STILTS. 



611 



like that seen in the lobe-footed phalaropes. Sexes and young alike ; winter and summer plu- 

 mage different (in the North American species at any rate). 



R. america'na. (Lat. americana, American. Fig. 4;2i.) American Avocet. Blue- 

 stocking. Adult $ 9 , wi summer: White, changing gradually to cinnamon or chestnut- 

 brown on neck and head, excepting, usually, the parts about base of bill. Interscapulars and 

 part of the scapulars black ; wings black, with the lining, and most of the secondaries, white. 

 Tail pearl-gray. Iris red (sometimes brown). Legs duU blue (drying blackish), much of the 

 webs flesh color ; bill black, often pale at base below. Size extremely variable : length 

 16.00-20.00; extent 28.00-38.00 ! wing 7.00-9.50 ; tail 3.00-4.00 ; bill 3.50, more or less, h-om 

 nearly straight to strongly recurved and hooked ; tibiaj bare 2.50 ; tarsus 3.50 or more ; middle 

 toe and claw 2.00 or less. Adult $ 'i , in winter : Head and neck ashy or pearl-gray, like the 

 tail ; this has been called R. occidentalis ; afterward considered the young. Young : The 

 head and neck strongly washed with cinnamon-brown ; rusty or tawny edgings of the black 

 feathers. I have shot scarcely fledged birds in this state ; 

 the shank is also pecuharly swollen. U. S. and British 

 Provinces ; rare now in E. U. S., only casual in New Eng- 

 land ; abounding in the west, especially in the alkaline 

 regions, as those of the Yellowstone and Milk River regions, 

 Utah, etc. Its appearance is striking, as might be sup- 

 posed ; its clamor is incessant when the breeding places are 

 invaded. It is not a wary bird, and may easily be ap- 

 proached when wading about in small flocks in the shal- 

 low alkaline pools it loves so well. Feeds by immersing 

 the head and neck for some moments whilst probing about 

 with the curious biU in the soft slimy ooze. On getting 

 beyond its depth, it swims with perfect ease, and often 

 alights from on wing in deep water. Eggs 3-4, as variable 

 in size, shape, and markings as the parents ; fi-om 1.80 to 

 2.10 long by 1.25 to 1.45 broad; ground color from dark 

 olive to brownish-drab, thence to creamy-brown or buff, 

 like those of Shanghai fowls ; pretty uniformly and pro- 

 fusely marked with small sharp spots of different shades of chocolate-brown, with neutral- 

 tint shell-markings ; on the buff eggs usually smallest and most numerous, bolder on the 

 olive ones. 



HI3IAX'TOPUS. (Gr. Ifiavroirovs, himantopous, strap-leg. Fig. 426.) Stilts. Bill ex- 

 tremely slender, but not flattened, nor turned up, nor hooked ; longer than head, rather shorter 

 than tarsus. Wing long and pointed, folding beyond the short and square tail, which is less 

 than half the wing. Legs of unique length and slenderness, the bare part about as long as 

 the wing ; tibiae denuded for a great distance ; tarsus about twice as long as toes. Feet 3-toed, 

 seinipalinate ; but the species scarcely swim. Sexes similar ; young different. 

 II. mexica'nus. (Lat. mexicanus, Mexican. Fig. 427.) Stilt. Long- shanks. Lawyer. 

 Adult ^ 9 : Mantle, constituted by the interscapulars, scapulars, and wings (above and below) 

 glossy-black, prolonged up the back of the neck and on top and sides of head, embracing the 

 eyes. A sptjt over and behind eye, one on under eyelid, forehead to opposite eyes, sides of head 

 below eyes, sides of neck and entire under parts, together with the lower back, rump, and 

 upper tail-coverts, white ; tail i)earl-gray. In life the long black mngs fold entirely over the 

 white upper parts and tail, so that the bird looks entirely black above. Bill black ; eyes and 

 legs carmine, latter drying yeUowish. Length about 15.00; extent about 30.00; wing S.50- 

 9.50; taa 2.75-3.25 ; bill 2.50-2.75; tibiae bare' 3.00-3.50 ; tarsus 4.00-4.50; middle toe and 

 claw 1.75-2.00. Adults, not in perfect dress : Some of the dark parts brown, not glossy-black. 



Tenney, 



