LIMICOLAE— RECURVIROSTRIDAE— R. AMERICANA. 449 



when pursuing- their course to a congenial winter climate in the south. They 

 live in summer on the borders of all the lakes and ponds of any considerable 



size. 



In seeking food, they resort not to the marshes and soft spots, as do 

 others of their fraternity, but to the water itself ; their long legs being 

 especially adapted to the purpose of wading, while their elongated bills and 

 necks allow them to pick up the insects which they find on the bottom of 

 the shallow pools, or the larvae which are swimming freely about. In sections 

 where they have not been molested, they are perfectly tame and unsuspicious, 

 and will, with entire unconcern, continue their graceful efforts and motions, 

 while subjected to a very close scrutiny. In parts of Utah, however, they 

 had learned that man was to be dreaded as an enemy, and, though they 

 were in large flocks, their numbers did not in the least re-assure them ; but, 

 on the contrary, they were always on the alert, and successfully baffled my 

 efforts to stalk them. Many are shot in the spring about Denver, and 

 exposed for sale in the markets under the name of " White Snipe ". 



Visiting some alkali lakes northwest of Fort Garland, Southern Colorado, 

 I found them in great numbers June 21. I presume that nearly all their 

 eggs had been hatched, and that the young were hidden about among the 

 grasses ; for not only was there an abundance of broken egg shells along 

 the shores, but my presence caused the greatest commotion in the com- 

 munities. As I successively visited one pond after another, I was met 

 everywhere by troops of the old birds, who flew in wide circles about my 

 head, while the shores resounded with their harsh cries. I shot several ; but 

 the others still continued their maneuverings, merely widening their course 

 somewhat, but always keeping within gunshot. The death of their comrades 

 appeared to excite little apprehension, though they occasionally flew close 

 down to the body of a fallen comrade, or alighted beside it as though trying 

 to comprehend the fate that had befallen him. Where the water is sufficiently 

 deep to allow of swimming, they alight freely upon the surface, and as they 

 move buoyantly about are particularly graceful and pleasing objects. 



At this place, the crops of several examined were fairly filled with the 



larvae of some insect with which the water was swarming. I found a single 



set of four eggs, which were placed in a slight hollow made for the purpose, 

 2!) z 



