408 GRALLATORES. 



and is much esteemed for game, but shy, and not easily obtained 

 by sportsmen. It is described as Bartrcmi s Tattler and Sand 

 Piper; among its common names, are GRASS-PLOVER and FIELD- 

 PLOVER. This bird is not found on the coast, its bill is very 

 short, scarcely longer than the head. In July and August, it is 

 seen in large flocks on its way South. It is fond of grass-hoppers. 



AVOSETS. 



The AVOSET, Recurvirostra, (Lat. up-turned bill,) Americana, 

 (see Chart,) is, from its &quot; perpetual clamor and flippancy of 

 tongue, called by the inhabitants of Cape May, the Lawyer; 

 the comparison, however, reaches no further; for our Lawyer is 

 simple, timid, and perfectly inoffensive.&quot; Wilson. The back 

 and under parts, are white ; the wings brownish black, with a 

 broad band of white. The bill is more than twice the length of 

 the head, very slender, tapering to a point, and somewhat re 

 curved, or upturned, (Plate IX. fig. 4;) the legs are very long 

 and slender. This bird builds its nest among the tallest grass. 

 The eggs, like those of other Waders, are four in number, pear- 

 shaped, of a dull olive color, with blotches of black. Like the 

 Roseate Spoon-bill, it moves its head &quot;to and fro sideways,&quot; 

 while it is passing its bill through the soft mud in search of 

 insects; in deeper water, it immerses the entire head and a part 

 of the neck, after the manner of the Spoon-bill and Red-breasted 

 Snipe. The notes of this bird resemble the syllable click. 

 Length eighteen inches. The Avoset ranges from Texas north 

 ward, and is abundant in the Rocky Mountains and the Fur 

 countries. In New Jersey, where it breeds, it is, from the color 

 of its legs, called Blue- Stocking. The food varies with its place 

 of resort, consisting of insects, crabs, fishes, marine worms, and 

 small mollusks. 



The BLACK-NECKED STILT, Himantopus, (Gr. himas, a thong ; 

 pous, a foot,) nigricollis, (Lat. black-necked,) has white plum 

 age with the head, neck, back, and wings, above, black. To 

 this bird is assigned the name of LAWYER, (N. H. S., N. Y.,) 

 it is also called Tilt and Longshanks. (See Chart.) It is a 

 rare species; but ranges from the Equator to the 41o N. L. 

 Its length is about fourteen inches. 



NOTE. Dr. DeKay (see N. H. S. N. Y.) has arranged the species of the 

 two preceding genera into a separate family, Rccurvirostrida. 



The KNOT, or RED-BREASTED SANDPIPER, Tringa cinerea, 

 (Nutt.,) T. canul.us, (Linn.,) has a slender, straight bill, rather 

 longer than the head ; the toes have a narrow membrane. This 



