Black -necked Stilt 395 



parently have been either killed or driven elsewhere. Mr. Witmer Stone in his 

 book, 'The Birds of New Jersey/ gives but a single record of the Stilt having 

 been seen in that state during the past fifty years; this one was shot by a 

 gunner at Stone Harbor, April 27, 1894. The Stilt seems equally rare at other 

 points along the Atlantic coast. In Eaton's 'Birds of New York,' the author 

 relates that "the latest New York specimens were taken fifty or sixty years 

 ago on Long Island, some of which are now in the State Museum, the Ameri- 

 can Museum, and the collection of the Long Island Historical Society." I 

 know of only one record for North Carolina during the past twenty years. 

 A specimen was shot at Nag's Head in Dare County, North Carolina, in June, 

 1900, and is today preserved in the Museum of Trinity College at Durham, 

 North Carolina. Mr. Arthur T. Wayne, who has been studying the bird-life 

 on the coast of South CaroUna for nearly forty years, records in his book on the 

 birds of the state that the only Black-necked Stilts he ever saw in that terri- 

 tory were on Sullivan Island about the middle of May, 1881. He expresses a 

 belief that the four birds he saw had nests in the neighborhood of a small 

 fresh-water pond they were inhabiting. 



In southern Florida Stilts may still be met with for they breed not uncom- 

 monly in many districts, from Cape Canaveral southward through the penin- 

 sula and the keys. On a key near Cape Sable Bent and Job found nests with 

 fresh eggs on May 8, 1903. In his 'Birds of Eastern North America' C. J. 

 Maynard wrote of the Florida Stilts he studied: 



"As may readily be inferred from a glance at the birds, the Black-necked Stilts run 

 very rapidly, but in the midst of their career they will pause suddenly, bend their long 

 legs, and pick up something from the ground, then off again after more food. Their 

 favorite method of feeding, however, is to wade in the shallow pools, often becoming 

 submerged to the body, and I have frequently seen them wading in this manner among 

 flocks of Ducks, consisting of several species. When alarmed while in the water they 

 will raise their long wings and rise as lightly as if on the land, and squat quietly down in 

 groups, but each individual faces the wind, especially if it be blowing hard. They are not 

 shy birds, as a rule, allowing one to approach within a few yards, and if the intruder go 

 too near they will give a bow or two as if balancing themselves, then rise with a harsh 

 scream which becomes continuous when they are badly frightened." 



They are common birds in many of the Bahama Islands. Mr. J. H. Riley, 

 writing in The Auk for October, 1905: observes: "Almost every small pond 

 or island mud-flat seemed to have a few pairs wading around with stately 

 tread until the intruder was sighted, when their infernal racket began." 



In May, 1916, I found the Stilts on the Louisiana marshes between Avery 

 Island and the Gulf of Mexico. Anticipating a visit to this territory I had 

 expressed a hope to my friend and prospective host, Mr. E. A. Mcllhenny, that 

 he would pilot me to the nesting-grounds of these curious and ridiculously 

 long-legged birds. Upon arriving there I was assured that this wish would 

 be granted, as he had instructed one of the guards on the Ward- 

 Mcllhenny 'Wild Life Reservation to begin three days before to search for a 



