332 The Water-fowl Family 



the shores of some mesa lake, they would rise in 

 a cloud of black and white and settle on the flats 

 at the water's edge, keeping just out of range, if 

 unmolested feeding ; some birds waded out the full 

 length of their legs, while others more suspicious 

 kept guard. Nearly all of them in full spring 

 plumage, this congregation presented a splendid 

 sight. When a flock was about to join those on 

 the ground we heard their sharp, clicklike cries. 

 In another instance, on a small spring hole near 

 one of the ranches, I saw a single avocet among a 

 large number of ducks. The bird was swimming 

 out in the centre, in the midst of the others, when 

 they rose, keeping in the flock. It had been in 

 the vicinity a week. 



In Colorado and Utah and about the Great 

 Salt Lake the avocet is common both in the 

 spring and fall on the migrations, and as a sum- 

 mer resident. If unmolested, the bird is gentle 

 and tame, and can be readily approached. It is 

 found along the borders of the larger lakes, 

 feeding on the insects and larvae abounding in 

 the water near the shore. The alkali ponds of 

 the Rocky Mountain states are favorite resorts, 

 and the bird is common in southeastern Oregon 

 and Montana, passing through Manitoba. 



The avocet breeds through a large part of its 

 range, selecting the marshes of the islands in wild 

 desert regions, placing the nest in the tallest grass, 



