348 PE^COCIAL CIRALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



slow steps, as if measuring the ground, or as if fearful of injuring their long and 

 slender limbs. Their cry is described as being feeble and sad. 



Wilson, who had a good opportunity tor observing the habits of this bird on the 

 sea-coast of New Jersey, states that it arrives there, about the 25th of April, in small 

 flocks of twenty or thirty, subdividing into smaller parties, associating during the 

 remainder of tlie season in small companies of two or three pairs. It inhabits the 

 upper portions of the salt-marshes near the uplands, where are numerous shallow- 

 pools above all but the highest tides. These pools abound with minute shellfish, 

 aquatic insects, with the larvee, eggs, and spawn of various forms of marine life ; and 

 upon these the Stilt chiefly feeds. A small party of a dozen or more usually make 

 their stay in the thick grass in the vicinity of such localities, and there construct 

 their nests. These are at fii'st slightly formed of a small quantity of dry grass, 

 hardly enough to keep the eggs from the damp ground. As incubation goes on, the 

 nest is increased by the addition of dry twigs, roots of the salt-grass, seaweed, and 

 various other substances, until quite a bulky nest is formed. The eggs are usually 

 four in number, and described by him as of a dark yellowisli clay-color, thickly 

 marked with large blotches of black. They are often placed within fifteen or twenty 

 yards of each other, and in the little colony the greatest harmony appears to prevail. 

 While the females are sitting, their mates are usually feeding in the adjoining 

 marshes ; but if any person ap)proaches their nests, they all collect in the air, flying 

 with their long legs extended behind them, and keep up a continiied yelping note 

 of cUck-dick-clk-l;. At the same time they droop their wings, stand with their legs 

 half-bent and trendjling, as if unable to keep themselves erect, and balancing their 

 bodies with great difficulty. These manoeuvres are undoubtedly designed to turn the 

 attention of the intruder from their eggs to themselves. If in wading this bird 

 chances to get into the water beyond its de^jth, it can swim a short distance as well 

 as the Avocet. It is known to Jersey hunters by the names of '■ Tilt," " Stilt," 

 and " Longslianks." It occasionally visits the uplands, and wades in fresh-water 

 ponds iu, search of food, which it scoops up very dexterously with its delicately-formed 

 bill, the extremities of which are soft, and provided with fine nervous membranes, 

 enabling it to detect its food at once. The Stilt raises only a single brood, and departs 

 south early in September. 



According to Audubon, a few of this species winter in Louisiana and in Florida, 

 but the greater portion proceed beyond our southern limits. In 1837 this bird made 

 its first appearance near Galveston in April, iu small flocks of seven or eight, keeping 

 near the small, shallow, brackish ponds where it sought its food ; it is then more shy 

 than while breediug. and utters a whistling cry different from its notes of distress 

 when nesting. It flies in a rapid manner, with regular beats of the wings and with 

 extended neck and legs, and walks with a firm gait, the staggering mentioned by 

 Wilson as noticed when breeding being simulated, and not real. This species is not 

 common along the shores of the Carolinas. Its food is said to consist of insects, 

 small Crustacea, worms, the young fry of fishes, and the small Libellulje. 



The Stilt probably breeds in all the Gulf States, in favorable situations. Dresser 

 noticed it at Matamoras in July. On the 2d of June, 1864, he saw two pairs on 

 Galveston Island ; and on the 4th of July, after a hea\'y fall of rain, this bird all at 

 once appeared in abundance iu the flooded lands near San Antonio. Dr. Merrill, who 

 had a still better opportunity^ of observing its habits in the same region, speaks of it 

 as being both common and resident there. It breeds in the marshes in May, making 

 its nests on wet grassy fiats, and laying three or four eggs. The nests were platforms 

 of straw and grass, often wet, and barely keeping the eggs OTit of the water. The 



