254 Mr. J. E. Harting on rare 



Swainson, it frequents the shallow lakes, feeding on insects 

 and small freshwater Crustacea. In Oregon, California, and 

 Texas it is equally numerous, as was ascertained by the U. S. 

 Exploring Expedition under Peale and others. I have re- 

 ceived several specimens of this bird from Mexico in full sum- 

 mer plumage; and Professor Spencer Baird has recorded its 

 occurrence in Florida. Occasionally, says Mr. Cassin [I.e.), 

 it is noticed on the coast of the Atlantic, sparingly north of 

 New Jersey, but becoming more numerous southwardly. 

 Audubon, in his 'Birds of America^ [l-c), has given an ex- 

 tremely interesting account, too long to be quoted here, of 

 the breeding-habits of this bird as observed by himself be- 

 tween Henderson and Vincennes, in the State of Indiana ; and 

 this account is republished in his * Ornithological Biography ' 

 [I.e.). Although R. americana has been met with in some 

 parts of Central America, e.g. in Guatemala, where, if I mis- 

 take not, Mr. Salvin procured specimens^; it would appear to 

 be somewhat rare there, and probably does not travel much 

 further south. I know of no instance of its occurrence in 

 any part of South America, although the Black-winged Stilt, 

 Hiinantopus nigricollis, a bird of similar habits and affecting 

 similar haunts, is found quite as far north and travels down to 

 Brazil. The latter bird has been met with in Jamaica (Gosse) 

 and the Galapagos Islands (Habel) ; but the former seems to 

 be confined entirely to the continent of North America. 



Giraud, in his account of the birds of Long Island, p. 269, 

 says, " the habits of this bird are very similar to those of the 

 Stilt, to which in form it has some resemblance. It is less 

 frequent with us than the latter, and is not generally known 

 to our gunners. It frequents the shallow pools in the salt 

 marshes, and, like the Stilt, is sometimes seen wading breast- 

 deep in pursuit of its favourite fare. A few breed at Egg- 

 Harbour, where they are called '' Blue-stocking,^' their legs 

 being of that colour. Its nest is built among the thick tufts 

 of grass, usually near some favourite pool, making use of 

 similar materials in its construction as the Stilt. The number 



* [Cy. Salvin, Ibis, 1865, p. 192, etl867,p. 198, where it is stated that 

 this species was seeu in some numbers at Chiapam on the Pacific coast of 

 Guatemala. — Ed.] 



