122 BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



Range. North America, rare east of the Mississippi, breeding from Northern Texas to the 

 Canadian line, wintering from southern Texas to Central America. 

 Range in North Carolina. Once observed near Beaufort. 



"Avocets are common birds in parts of the interior of the United States, but are 

 rare on the Atlantic coast. They frequent shores and shallow pools, and in search- 

 ing for shells, Crustacea, etc., their peculiar recurved bill is used in a most interesting 

 manner. Dropping it beneath the surface of the water until its convexity touches 

 the bottom, they move rapidly forward, and with every step swing their bill from 

 side to side, as a mower does his scythe. In this way they secure food which the 

 muddy water would prevent them from seeing." (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



FIG. 83. AVOOET. 



A flock seen by Coues near Fort Macon, September 12, 1869, is our only record 

 for North Carolina. 



Genus Himantopus (Briss.) 



101. Himantopus mexicanus (Mull). BLACK-NECKED STILT. 



Ad. cf 1 . A white spot above and another below eye; front of head, front of neck, lower 

 back, rump, and underparts white; tail grayish; rest of plumage glossy, greenish black. Ad. 

 9 Similar, but with back fuscous-brown, Juv. Similar, but whole upperparts margined 

 with rusty. L., 15.00; W., 9.00; Tar., 4.15; B., 2.00. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Breeds locally from central Oregon to Florida and the West Indies; winters from 

 the Gulf Coast to Peru. 



Range in North Carolina. Once taken in Dare County, near the ocean beach. 



A mounted Stilt is to be found in the museum at Trinity College, Durham, North 

 Carolina. Rev. S. T. Moyle of Mount Gilead, who took the specimen, has written 

 us as follows: "I think it was during June, 1900, I was shooting shore-birds on 

 the beach south of Nag's Head, Dare County, when I saw this bird with a flock 

 of Yellowlegs. I tried to secure it, but only crippled it. A friend who was with 

 me then killed it and gave it to me." Bishop informs us that he saw a mounted 

 specimen at Manteo, Roanoke Island, Dare County, in May 1902. It was in the 

 possession of a minister, and he understood it had been shot in the spring of 1901 

 or 1902. Apparently both statements refer to the same bird, as the Trinity College 

 specimen remained at Manteo for some years before being brought to Durham. 



