368 RECURV1ROSTRA AMERICANA. 



Tlie neck is rather long and slender but the most noticeable feature is the greatly 

 lengthened legs. The head is not large in comparison with the well-rounded body. The 

 sternum is quite narrow with the marginal indentations nearly equal in depth, while the 

 furcula is moderately well arched. 



GENUS I. RECURVIROSTRA. THE AVOCETS. 



GEN. CH. Bin, wett curved upward, more than twice as tony as head which is not very large. Hind toe present but 

 small. Tip of closed wing, but little longer than tail. 



Members of this genus have the hill considerably flattened. Sexes, quite similar. There is but one species within our 

 limits. 



RECTJRVIROSTRA AMERICANA. 



American Avocet. 

 Recurvirostra Americana GM., Syst. Nat., I; 1788, 693. 



DESCRIPflON. 



SP. On. Form, robust. Size, large. Bill, curved upward considerably but the tip is slightly hooked Wings, point- 

 ed. Sternum, stout. 



COLOR. Adult. Head and neck all around, cinnamon-red. Body, white, with scapularies, which are broadly edged 

 with white, tertiaries, greater wing coverts, and primaries, black. 



Young. Quite similar to the adult but the head and neck are white, tinged with ashy above, and the black markings 

 are not as clear. Iris, red, bill, black, and legs, greenish, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the decidedly upturned bill, long legs, and presence of hind toe and prominent toe membrane. Dis- 

 tributed in summer, west of the Mississippi. Rare on the Eastern coast. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Western North America. Length, 16-62; stretch, 29-50; wing, 9-25; tail, 

 3-85; bill, 3'55; tarsus, 3'40. Longest specimen, 18-00; greatest extent of wing, Sl'OO; longest wing, lO'OO; tail. 3'95; bill, 

 3-75; tarsus, 3 50. Shortest specimen, 15'32; smallest extent of wing, 28'00; shortest wing, 8-50; tail, 3-70; bill, 3'35; tar- 

 sus, 3-30. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Eggs, placed on the ground in a slight depression of the soil, three or four in number, rather pyriform in shape, ashy- 

 yellow in color, spotted and blotched irregularly and quite thickly, but seldom coarsely, with yellowish-brown of varying 

 shades. Dimensions from l'25x 1'95 to 1-40x2 05. 



HABITS. 



The Avocet, although common in the region west of the Mississippi, appears to be 

 quite rare on the eastern coast and I have never met with it living nor can I recall a re- 

 cent instance of its capture in the North. It has been taken here rarely but occurs more 

 often in the South. Published accounts of the habits of this bird, show that it differs but 

 slightly from that of the succeeding species. 



GENUS II. HIMANTOPUS. THE STILTS. 



GEN. Cn. Bill, but sliyhty curved upward, and less than twice the length of the head which is rather large. Hind toe, 

 absent. Tips of closed wings, considerably longer than tail. 



Members of this genus have the bill well rounded toward tip which is pointed. Sexes, similar. There is but one 

 species within our limits. 



HIMANTOPUS NIGRICOLLIS. 



Black-necked Stilt. 

 Himantapus nigricoll's VIEII.L., Diet., X; 1S17, 42. 



DESCRIPTION . 



SP. CH. Form, robust. Size, large. Bill, long. Sternum, stout. Tongue, rather long, thin, and slender, narrow- 

 ing toward tip which is pointed but not horny. 



