146 



THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



Family RECURVIROSTRID.E. Avocets and Stilts. 



American Avocet ( Rccurz'irostra ainencana). A bird of the interior, 

 breeding from Texas to the Saskatchewan. Giraud mentions it as casual on 

 Long Island, and says that a few bred at Egg Harbor, N. J. (Dutcher records 

 four individuals seen by Col. Nicholas Pike on Long Island as follows: Pon- 

 quogue, 1844; Canarsie Bay. 1847; Southampton, two, no date (x\uk, X, 189.3, 

 p. 272). 



Black-necked Stilt (Hhnaiitopus niexicanus). A southern species, 

 breeding in the Gulf States and locally in the Mississippi Valley and west- 

 w^ard; rare on the North Atlantic coast. Giraud mentions it as "unf requent," 

 and Dutcher records two specimens taken by Colonel Pike on Great South 

 Bay, one of them in 1843 (Auk, X, 1893, P- 272). 



Family SCOLOPACID.-E. Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. 



European Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) . The only record for the 

 occurrence of this species in this vicinity is based on a specimen found in 

 Washington Market, December 6, 1S59, which was said to have been killed 

 near Shrewsbury, N. J. (Lawrence, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist., VHI, 1866, p. 223), 



♦Woodcock (Pliilolirla lu'uior). The woodcock is a not uncommon sum- 

 mer resident and more numerous fall migrant. Owing to the clearing of 

 timber areas, draining of lands and demands of sportsmen, it is however. 

 yearly decreasing in numbers in the vicinity of New York. It arrives early 

 in March, and does not leave us until the ground is frozen. (See group, 

 second floor). 



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Fig. 8. Woodcock. 



