COUES ON BIRDS OF DAKOTxV AND MONTANA. 



635 



prairie. The nesting period is protracted, for at the time I tooli nearly 

 fresh eggs, well-leathered young, shifting for themselves, had already 

 been observed. 



List of specimens. 



EECURVIROSTRA AMERICANA, Gm, 



American Avocet. 



Kot observed in the Red River region, but found breeding in great 

 abundance in the Milk River country, where it seemed specially fond of 

 the alkali pools, that are too numerous for the traveller's comfort. It is 

 one of the most conspicuous birds of the saline region, and may be rec- 

 ognized at any distance by its resemblance to a Crane in miniature. Its 

 loud voice is peculiar, and the clamor is incessant when the breeding-* 

 places are invaded. The bird nests rather early, as by the first week of 

 July, when I first encountered it at Frenchman's River, the young were 

 already fledged, and by the middle of the month were on wing. At 

 this age, they show a curious enlargement of the shank, which is swollen 

 to much greater calibre than that of the tibia. The birds being abund- 

 ant, and also very unsuspicious, a fine series of specimens was readily 

 secured. They were generally observed in flocks of half a dozen to two 

 dozen, wading about in the shallow water, often beyond gunshot from 

 the shore, and at such times presenting a singularly pleasing and pic- 

 turesque appearance. On getting beyond their depth, they begin to 

 swim without difficulty, and frequently alight directly on deep water. 

 They feed by immersing the head and neck for some moments together, 

 during which time they are feeling about with their curious bills. Their 

 preference for the alkaline pools may be less due to the quality of the 

 water itself than to its shallowness and stillness, and the peculiarly soft, 

 oozy, and almost slimy condition of the bottom. 



