318 SHORE BIRDS 



equal to that of the other shore birds of the second 

 class, such as the tattlers. 



THE BLACK-NECKED STILT 



This bird evidently was named for its legs. Like 

 the avocets, the stilts are more abundant in the West 

 than in the Eastern States. Stilts and avocets are 

 often seen feeding together. 



The flight of the stilt is swift and easily maintained, 

 and in its progress it exhibits " alternately the upper 

 and under side of the body, like many other species of 

 the Limicolce, affording a pleasing contrast from the 

 black of the back to the pure white of the under parts, 

 brightened by the long lake-red legs extending be- 

 neath and beyond the tail." 



Stilts are usually found about the margins of bays 

 and ponds or streams; wherever they are found in any 

 numbers there seem to be many other waders, and 

 most likely some of the avocets. I have seen them only 

 in the West, where they were by comparison of no im- 

 portance to a sportsman. Their flesh is about equal to 

 that of the others whose company they keep. 



THE PHALAROPES 



There are three American phalaropes: the red 

 phalarope, the Northern phalarope and the Wilson's 

 phalarope. 



The name is of Greek derivation and means " coot- 

 foot." The feet of the phalaropes are said to resemble 

 those of the coot. 



The two birds first mentioned are about the size of 

 the kill-deer plover. The Wilson's phalarope is a little 



