IF 4 



RECURVIROSTRA AMERICANA. 



T\\e neck is rather long and slender but the most noticeable feature is the greatly 

 lengthened legs The head is not large in comparison with the well-rounded body. The 

 sternum is quite narrow with the marginal indentations nearly equal in depth, while the 

 furcula is moderately well arched. 



GENUS I. RECURVIROSTRA. THE AVOCETS. 



Gen. Cm. Bill, xoell curved uinoard, more than twice as luny as head which is not very large. Hind toe present but 

 small. Tip of closed ivinij, but little longer than tail. 



Members of lliis genus have the bill eoDsiderably flattened. Sexe-;, quite similar. Tbon- i^ fiat onf -peci -s within (lur 

 Hmits. 



EECUKVIBOSTKA AMERICANA. 



American Avocet. 



RecuTvirostra Americana Gm., Syst. Nat., I; 1788, 693. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn, Fovm, robust. Size, large. Bill, curved upward eonsiderably but tie tip l« slightly hooked Wings, point- 

 ed. Sternum, stout. 



Cor,oR. Adult. Head and neck all around, cinnamon-red. Body, wliite, wiih seapula-'e . w' '.c' ar ' i n:idly p Ijinl 

 with white, tertiaries, greater winir coverts, and primaries, black. 



Young. Quite similar to the adult but the head and neck arewhitc, tinged witli a-hy ab \e. and il e bl :<k n.a^kin^ 

 are not as clear. Iri-*, red, bill, black, and legs, greenish, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Readily known by the decidedly upturned bill, long legs, and presence of hind toeand prominent toe membrane. Dis- 

 tributed in summer, west of the Mississippi. Rare on the Eastern coast. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimen^ from Western North America. Length, 16 62; -^tn tc!i, 2!) JO. wing. 925; tail' 

 3-85; bill, 3 55; tarsus, 3'40. bmgest specimen, 18-00; greatest extent of wing, 31-00; hmgc.-t wing, 10 '0; tail. 3 95: hill 

 3-75; tarsus, 3 50. Shortest specimen, 1532; smallest extent of wing, 28-00; s'loriest wing, 8 50; mil, 3 "0; M 1, 335. tai 

 sus, 3-30. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Eggs, placed on the ground in a slight depression of thesoil, three or four in number, vatl:er pyvif urn in -^hapf . a-^hy- 

 yellow in color, .spotted and blotched irreguhirly and (luite tliickly, but seldom coai-.-rly, with yellow is' -brown if varying 

 shades. Dunensions from 1 25x 1 05 to 1-40x2 05. 



HABITS. 



The Avocet, although common in the region west of the Mississippi, appears to be 

 quite rare on the eastern cotist tind I have never met with it living nor can I recall a re- 

 cent instance of its capture in the North. It hits been ttiken here rarely but occurs more 

 often in the South. Published accounts of the habits of this bird, show that it differs but 

 slightly from that of the succeeding species. 



(iENUS II. HIMANTOPUS. THE STILTS. 



Gen. Cu. Bill, Iml sliyhly curved upward, and less than twice the length of the head which is rathir large Hind toe, 

 absent. Tips of closed icings, ronsideralili/ longer than tail. 



Members of this genus have the bill well rounded toward tip whicli i- pointed. Sexes, similar. There is but one 

 species within our liml s. 



HIMANTOPUS NIGRICOLLIS. 



Blacli-nccked Stilt. 

 Hiinantopus nigricoIVs VlEiLi.., Diet , X; 1817, 42. 

 DESCRIPTION. 

 Sr. Cu. Form, robust. Size, large. Hill, long. Sternum stout. Tongue, rather long, thin, and slender, narrow- 

 ing toward tip which is pointed but not hot-ny. 



