Shore-bird Shooting 335 



yellowleg, finally taking wing and uttering a 

 sharp, dicklike note. The flight was graceful, 

 and in a line ; the bright black and white of their 

 plumage and their long red legs marked them 

 afar. We saw repeatedly these small flocks, 

 always a pleasing sight. Later in May they were 

 common in Chihuahua on the larger lakes, fre- 

 quenting the same places as the avocets, but as far 

 as I could see keeping their own company. The 

 stilt feeds on insects and larvae, often wading into 

 the water for its food. All of the few specimens 

 shot showed evidence of approaching incubation. 



This bird is common in the region of the Great 

 Salt Lake on its migrations and as a summer 

 resident, less abundant in southeastern Oregon. 

 Marshes about the barren alkali lakes in this 

 vicinity are its breeding-grounds. The nest is 

 bulky, constructed of grass, and placed often in 

 some wet spot, but built high enough up to keep 

 the eggs dry. When disturbed under these cir- 

 cumstances they show the greatest anxiety, flying 

 about close by, uttering pitiful cries of distress. 



The stilt is found along the shores of the Gulf 

 states where it breeds, and was formerly observed 

 by Wilson in some numbers on the coast of New 

 Jersey; but now is a rare straggler here, and is 

 still rarer on Long Island and in New England. 

 On the Pacific Coast the bird is uncommon. It is 

 also known as white snipe, tilt, long shanks, lawyer. 



