266 
NEW-YORK FAUNA-BIRDS. 
This is not a very common visitor to our shores. It is known under the various popular 
names of Tilt, Stilt, Longshanks and Lawyer. The origin of this last popular name (which 
is most in use), I have not been able to discover : there appears to be nothing unusual in the 
length of its hill. It ranges from the equator to the 41st degree of north latitude, its extreme 
northern range terminating in this State. It breeds in the adjacent State of New-Jersey, and 
possibly here, although I have no positive evidence on the subject. The eggs are yellowish, 
blotched and lined with black. It is a shore bird, living upon small fishes, crabs, insects and 
worms. Many are winter residents in Florida and Louisiana. It appears every where to be 
a rare species. 
GENUS RECURVIROSTRA. Linn^us. 
Bill long, very slender, depressed, turned upwards from the middle to the tip, and much 
longer than the tarsus. Mandibles subequal, and furrowed on each side at the base. Hind 
toe very short, articulated high up, and not touching the ground. Anterior toes webbed to 
the second joint. 
THE AMERICAN AVOSET. 
RECURVIROSTRA AMERICANA. 
PLATE C1I. FIGS. 227, 229 (Summer and winter). 
(STATE COLLECTION. CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 
Recurvirostra americana. LiNNiEUS, Syst. Nat. p. 256. 
American Avoset. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Yol. 2, p. 502. 
R. id. Leach, Zool. Misc. Vol. 3, p. 113, pi. 101. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 7, p. 126, pi. 63, fig. 2. 
R. id. Rich. F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 315. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 345. 
R. id. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 24, pi. 353. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 269. 
Characteristics. White: tail tinged with pale ash; back and wings black. Summer: 
Head and neck pale rufous. Winter, these parts white. Length, 18'0. 
Description. Bill slender, flattened, tapering to a delicate point, recurved, longer than 
the tarsus. Upper mandible turned down at the tip. Tibia half naked. Tarsus compressed, 
3'7 long. 
Color. Summer and autumn: Head, neck and breast light reddish buff, deeper on the 
back of the neck. Face, space round the eye, ridge of the wings, outer scapulars, tips of 
the greater coverts, inner webs and outer margins of the secondaries, back, abdomen, vent 
and thighs white. Interior scapulars, coverts and quills brownish black. Upper tail-coverts 
dark at their base. Bill black. Legs blue. In this State it is represented by figure 229. 
In the Cabinet of the Lyceum is a specimen labelled “ Male Avoset, shot October 29, on 
