570 THE STILT PLOVER. 



AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurmrostra americana). This long-legged bird inhabits the United 

 States and the British Provinces, north to the Great Slave Lake. It is rare in New England, 

 and breeds in all parts of its range. From its excessive clamoring it is called by the Jersey 

 gnnners Lawyer. This bird associates in numbers on the beaches, uttering click, click, click, 

 incessantly. The male is eighteen inches and a half long, and two feet and a half in extent of 

 wing. The female is a few inches smaller, and differs somewhat in coloration. It is, unlike 

 many of the wading birds, more abundant in the interior than on the sea-coast, the Mississippi 

 Valley being a favorite region. 



Dr. Coues says: "They were quite gentle and familiar and not at all disturbed by my 

 approach, displaying a characteristic of theirs during the breeding-season at least in regions 

 where they are not often molested and have, therefore, not learned a wholesome dread of 

 man. They walk leisurely about, up to their bellies in water, with graceful, deliberate steps, 

 ^ach of which was accompanied by a swaying of the head and neck, as usual with birds of similar 

 form. When approached too closely, they rose lightly from the water, uttering their peculiar 

 cries, flapped leisurely to a short distance, and again alighted to pursue their peaceful search 

 for food, forgetting, or at least not heeding, their recent alarm. As they rose from the water, 

 their singularly long legs were suffered to dangle a few moments, but were afterwards 

 stretched stiffly backward, as a counterpoise to their long necks ; and, thus balanced, their 

 lithe bodies were supported with greatest ease by their ample wings. When about to re-alight, 

 they sailed without flapping for a little distance, just clearing the water, their legs again hang- 

 ing loosely. As they touched the ground, their long wings were held almost upright for an 

 instant, then deliberately folded, and settled in place with a few slight motions." 



Avocets and Stilts correspond in habits as closely as they do in form. One of the most 

 marked characteristics is seen in the feet. Avocets have a hind toe, which the Stilts have not, 

 and their feet are almost completely webbed. They are, therefore, the best swimmers of the 

 long-legged waders. 



THE BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus). This bird inhabits the United 

 States generally, Cuba, Mexico, Central and South America. Besides having singularly long 

 and slender legs, this bird has long pointed wings, but of ample width ; its flight in con- 

 sequence is firm, vigorous, and swift. When folded they reach beyond the tail, and as the 

 tinder-coverts reach to the end, the bird tapers off behind to a fine point. On the ground, 

 whether walking or wading, it moves gracefully, with measured steps ; the long legs are much 

 bent at each step only at the joint, however and planted firmly, perfectly straight. 



THE STILT PLOVEB is nearly as conspicuous for its long legs as the Avocet for its 

 curved bill. 



This bird, which really looks as if the legs were intended for a body at least twice its size, is 

 sometimes, but very rarely, found in northern districts of Europe, and whenever it is found 

 there, generally prefers the swampy or marshy ground. Owing to the great scarcity of this 

 species, and its speedy fate from powder and shot, very little is known of its habits; but if we 

 may judge by the Black-necked Stilt of America, it employs its long legs in wading through 

 the water in search of food, and picks up the various aquatic inhabitants which come in its 

 path. 



Wilson remarks of the Black-necked species, that when these birds alight on the ground 

 "they drop their wings, stand with their legs half bent and trembling as if unable to support 

 the weight of their bodies. In this ridiculous position they will sometimes stand for several 

 minutes, uttering a curring sound, while from the corresponding quiverings of their wings and 

 long legs they seem to balance themselves with great difficulty. This singular manoauvre is 

 no doubt intended to induce a belief that they may easily be caught, and so turn the attention 

 of the person from the pursuit of their eggs and young to themselves." 



The Stilt is able to swim, but generally contents itself with wading up to its belly in 

 water. The flight of this bird is strong, and the long legs are trailed far behind the tail, look- 

 ing at a little distance as if it had carried off a piece of string fastened to its toes. Five or six 



