48 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE OF MICHIGAN. 



Family RECURVIROSTRID^. Avocets and Stilts. 



Very long bills and legs; food small molluscs, crustaceans and insects. 



Genus RECDRVIROSTRA Linn. 



98-225 (000). Reciii'virostra americaiia Gynel. American Avocet. 



"One specimen from Michigan in the Kent Scientific Institute'" (E. L. Moseley); 

 one taken by W. H. Collins near Detroit; embraced in Butler's Birds of Indiana. 



Genvs HIMANTOPU8 Briss. 



09-226-it)01). Himantopus Mexicanus {Mull). Black-necked Stilt. 



"Rare transient'' (Gibbs' Birds of Michigan); of doubtful occurrence in Michigan. 

 Dr. Steere gives it doubtfully as breeding in Michigan. 



Family SCOLOPACID^. Snipes, Sandpipers etc. 



Feed on small aquatic animals, insects etc.; eggs densely spotted, usually pointed 

 at one end; game birds. 



Woodcock, head and outer primaries, natural size. 



(tENUS PLILOHELA Gray. 



100-228 (<iO.>). Philohela minor (Gmel.). *American Woodcock. 



Common from March, rarely February, to October or November; "occasionally 

 every month of the year'" (Gibbs): throughout the state: "formerly very common in 

 Wayne county, but goes as the marshes are drained "" (Dr. W. C. Brownell); R. H. 

 Wolcott saw one January 1, 1888. at Grand Rapids, when the snow was one foot deep; 

 reported from Presque Isle Co.; "Grand Traverse Co." (Dr. M. L. Leach); "Mackinac 

 Island" (S. E. White); "Iron Mountain " (E. E. Brewster): "Keweenaw Point" (Knee- 

 land); breeds: nests in April, on the ground in thick brush: eggs four, gray, specked 

 and spotted with dark brown: esteemed as a game bird: taken at the College. October 

 30, 1892. 



