-TTT. 



RECUKV'OSTRIILK — THE AVOCETS — UECl'RVIRDSTRA. 



343 



wiis somotinu's scon wadiuj,' hrpast-deep in jmrsuit of its food. H(f fouiul a few breed- 

 iiii,' ui'ar KkK Hiii'l»<>i', N. .f., wlicvo they arn known as ■• I{liiP-stockinj,'s," from the 

 (iild'' of tlii'ir lt'j,'s. Tlifir nests were Imilt anions thick tufts of f,M'ass, usually near 

 ;i |i(>(>I (if shallow water, in California Dr. Cooper found the Avocet rather rare in 

 till' southern part. One which had Immmi killed at San Diego lato in Xovoniber was 

 iv^arded as a f,'reat curiosity. Jt is more common in the central re},Mon of the State 

 ill the winter, and is frei^uently l)rouj,dit to market. Dr. Cooper shot individuals in 

 tlie riatte l{e,t,'ion in August, and thinks that some breed in the northeastern corner 

 of the State of t'alil'ornia. 



in Wilson's day this bird was called by the inhabitants of Ca))e May '• the Lawyer," 

 lidiii its perpetual clamor. It was foinid associated with the Stilt on the salt-nuirshes 

 ol New .lirsey, on the L'Oth of May, and was flying around the shallow pools uttering 

 till' sharii notes of r/!r/,--i/!r/,-r/!r/,; alighting on the marsh or in the water, fluttering 

 its wings, and keei)ing up a continual cry. A iii'st was found built among the thick 

 tiitts of grass, at a small distani'e from one of the pools, and was made of small twigs 

 (il a seaside shrub, dry grass, and seaweed, and raised to tlm height of several inches. 

 Till' eggs, which were four in ninnber, he descrilies as being of a dvdl olive color, 

 iiiiirkcd with large irregular blotches of bhu^k, and with others of a fainter tint, lie 

 iidcls that this species arrives at Cape .May kite in April, rears its young, and leave.s 

 tor the south early in October. 



.Ml'. Audubon found a number of Avocets breeding near Vincennes, Indiana, in 

 .liinc. 1S14. Their nests were on an island in a large shaUow ]»oud. At his apitroach 

 the birds kept uj) a constant noise, remained on the wing, and at times dived through 

 the air toward him. There were three nests with eggs, besides a female with her 

 brood, on tlu' island. He ol)served that this bird on alighting keeps its wings raised 

 until it has fairly settled. If in the water, it stands a few minutes balancing its head 

 iiiiil neck, and then stalks about in seandi of food, sometimes nuuiiug for it, ami oeca- 

 siniially swimming, or wading up to its i)reast, with its wings partially raised. In 

 iVeding these birds remain separ.ated from each other, although occasionally meeting 

 ill their flights, and are silent, but apparently not on unfriendly terms with their 

 fellows. In searching for their food they move their heads to and fro sideways 

 wliilf the liill is passing through the soft iiuid, and when the water is deej) they im- 

 iiu'ise the whole head and part of the neek. i\ pursuit of acpuitie in.sects they seize 

 their prey by thrusting the lower niandilile iieneath it, the other being raised above 

 tlir surface. This bird is also expert in catching flying insects, Avhich it pursues 

 with partially expanded wings. 



On ap])r()achiiig one of the nests on whieli a female was sitting, the latter scram- 

 blcil off, running, tumbling, and at last rising on wing, floundering hither and thither 

 tivi'r the pt)()l, now lying on the surface as if ready to die, and now limiiing, as if to 

 invite the intruder to pursue her. All the Avocets left their nests and flew directly 

 iit him, except the one with the lour young birds, who betook herself to the water and 

 wailed off, followed by her brood. The latter swam as well as young ducklings of 

 the same size. The nests were placeil in the tallest grass, and were entirely com- 

 posed of this material, but of another year's growth. The inner nest was five inches 

 wide and lined with tine prairie grass, about two inches in depth, over a bed about 

 ail inch and a half thick. The eggs in each instance were four in nundjer. 



Audubon describes the Avocet's flight as similar to that of the Stilt, the bird 

 passing through the air as if moving to a great distance, v. ith an easy, swift, continued 

 flight, the legs and neck fully extended. When nbinging toward an intruder it 

 moves downward, ami passes by the person v.itli , 'ed of an arrow. 



