THE AMERICAN AVOCET. 
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According to Nelson, small flocks of this Curlew will follow a single 
Hudsonian Curlew all over the country, in the same manner in which smaller 
species of snipe will follow one of a larger kind, and he supposes it is on 
account of their dependance on the superior watchfulness of the larger bird, 
and the degree of protection thereby secured. 
No. 252. 
ye AMERICAN AVOCET. 
VA. O. U. No. 225. Recurvirostra americana Gmel. 
Description.—Adult in swmmer: Head and neck all around and breast light 
cinnamon rufous; wing-quills and coverts (except inner secondaries and tips of 
greater coverts) deep brownish black; back, inner scapulars, and inner quills, 
lighter brownish black; remaining plumage, including outer scapulars, rump, tail, 
etc., white ;—tail tinged with ashy; bill long, slightly recurved toward tip, black; 
legs dull blue. Adult in winter: Similar but without cinnamon-rufous,—white 
instead ; tinged with pale bluish ash, especially on the top of head and hind-neck. 
Immature: Like winter adult, but hind neck touched with rufous; scapulars, etc., 
buffy-tipped, or mottled; wing-quills tipped with whitish. Length 16.00-19.00 
(406.4-482.6) ; wing 8.82 (224.); tail 3.90 (99.1); bill 3.72 (94.5); tarsus 
3-66 (93). 
Recognition Marks.—Crow size; long legs; black and white and cinnamon- 
rufous in masses; long, slightly upturned bill. 
Nesting.—Not known to breed in Ohio. Nest, a mere depression in the earth, 
in or near a swamp. Lggs, 3-4, pale olive or olive-buff, heavily and rather uni- 
formly spotted with chocolate-brown and black. Av. size, 1.95 xX 1.35 (49.5 
X 34.3). 
General Range.—Temperate North America north to the Saskatchewan and 
Great Slave Lake; in winter south to Guatemala and the West Indies. Rare in 
the eastern United States. 
Range in Ohio.—Very rare visitor. Two or three records. One specimen 
secured at St. Mary’s Reservoir, Nov. 10, 1882, by Mr. Clemens Utter, now in O. 
S. U. collection. 
TO a novice the compound curve of a scythe handle might seem an 
awkward thing, but a little practice upon stubborn grass will justify its pre- 
cise lines of beauty. Similarly, the long upturned beak of the Avocet appears 
quite outlandish until one learns how perfectly it is adapted to its peculiar 
task. Since the bird frequents brackish and muddy pools, as well as the 
margins of streams, it does not depend largely upon eyesight in securing its 
prey, but thrusts its bill under water until its convexity strikes the bottom. 
Then, guided by this “heel,” the bill is swayed rapidly from side to side with 
