308 Mr. Ambrose A. Lane — Field-Notes 



They occur on the Andes adjacent to Santiago, but I did 

 not hear of their existence farther south. 



107. Recurvirostra andina, Phil, et Landb. 



Recurvirostra andina, Sharpe, B. M. C, xxiv. p. 334; Scl. 

 P. Z. S. 1891, p. 137. 



(Lake Huasco and Sacaya.) 



This bird, so far as I could ascertain, is peculiar to the 

 salt-marshes of the Bolivian Andes, at an elevation of from 

 8,000 to 12,000 feet. It was plentiful about Huasco, and 

 a few occurred at Sacaya in one spot, which was a stretch 

 of saltish sediment with from two to nine inches of water 

 on it, but it never resorts to swamps or grassy slopes. 



The sexes are similar in appearance, the female being, if 

 anything, a trifle larger than the male. The latter is about 

 18 inches long, bill 3 (base to tip), tail 4. It has two 

 middle rectrices, and five lateral each side. Wing 9'j inches, 

 tarsus 3'5, middle and hind toes 1'5 and "25 inch respectively ; 

 the latter is elevated about -375 inch. The feet are half- 

 webbed ; the legs and feet are lavender-grey ; claws and bill 

 black. The iris is scarlet. 



The plumage is thick and well adapted to the rigorous 

 cold of the Andes. The flesh is a deep red, and rank-looking, 

 like that of the Flamingo and other birds which feed in the 

 salt-marshes. 



These Avocets appear to be residents where they occur, 

 and I should say are strictly local. I was informed that 

 they nest about November, on the shores of the water they 

 frequent, laying four or five eggs. There are three chicks 

 mounted in the Santiago Museum and two adult specimens. 

 In the former the bills were, I think, straight or very slightly 

 curved ; they are of a light brown or drab plumage, with 

 black spots or patches. 



These birds are usually seen wading in the shallow 

 lagunas, either singly or in small groups ; when the latter is 

 the case they usually are all facing in the same direction, and 

 if they move they go forward. Keeping the same front, they 

 make rapid pecks at the surface of the water in a diagonal 



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