44 BULLETIN 142,, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



remains seated in tbe automobile and makes no noticeable movement it is 

 possible to make close observation of tbese and several otber species of sbore 

 birds, but tbe slightest movement or an attempt to get out of tbe car sends 

 tbem away in the wildest confusion. 



Voice. — The avocet's vocabulary is not so elaborate as it is impres- 

 sive. The commonest note, heard on the breeding grounds as a note 

 of alarm or protest, is a loud, shrill whistle or yelping scream, which 

 I have recorded in my notes as wheat, wheat, wheat. Others have 

 recorded it as plee-eek, plee-eek, or click, click, click. It is always 

 sharp and vehement, implying anger. I have also heard a softer 

 note, uttered in a conversational tone, like whick, whick, whick, or 

 whuck, whuck, wlxuck. 



Aretas A. Saunders contributes the following notes : 



About tbe nest colony tbe adults flew closely about my bead, calling a short 

 staccato call that sounded like pmk, pink, pink. One bird pretended wounded 

 in a different, manner from what I have seen it done by other species. The 

 bird sat on tbe water, dropped its head and neck down to the surface, half 

 spread its wings, also dropping them on the water, and, lying almost still, 

 called oo-oo, oo-oo, oo-oo, over and over, as though suffering great pain. The 

 voice was low and not very loud, and not at all like the pink, pink of the other 

 birds. 



Field marks. — The avocet, in its striking color pattern of black 

 and white, could not be mistaken for anything else. A white tail, 

 a black V on a white back, black wings with white secondaries and 

 blue legs are all distinctive marks ; the buff head and neck are nuptial 

 adornments ; in fall and winter these parts are grayish white. From 

 the stilt it can be distinguished by its much stockier build, the absence 

 of black on head and neck and by blue instead of pink legs. 



Game. — Although it is a large, plump bird and would help to fill 

 a game bag, there is no excuse for treating it as a game bird. It is 

 so tame and so foolishly inquisitive that it would offer poor sport 

 and would soon be exterminated. Furthermore its flesh is said to 

 be worthless for the table. But above all, it is such a showy, hand- 

 some and interesting bird, that it ought to be preserved for future 

 generations to enjoy. The destruction of its breeding grounds will 

 exterminate it soon enough, as it has already been extirpated from 

 its former range in the Eastern States. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — North America to northern Central America. 



Breeding range. — The breeding range of the avocet extends north 

 to Washington (Moses Lake and probably Walla Walla) : northern 

 Idaho (Pend Oreille) ; Alberta (Eed Deer, Buffalo Lake, and Flag- 

 staff) ; Saskatchewan (Osier, Quill Lake, and Touchwood Hills) ; 

 Xorth Dakota (Kenmare and Cando) ; Minnesota (Brown's Valley, 



