462 BIED3 — EECUfiVIEOSTEID^, 



pale bine, with part of the webs fleah-oolored. The plumage is white, ohacgiDg, to cin- 

 namon or chestnut on the neck and head ; the back, wing-ooverts, and primaries black, 

 contrasting with the white of the scapulars and romp. In size the bird is extremely 

 variable ; perhaps seventeen inches in total length by thirty in extent represents aver- 

 age measurements. Contrary to the rule among waders, the female is smaller than the 

 male." (Cone«, Birds N. W.-, 462.) 



Habitat, United States and British Provinces. North to the Sasliatchewan and Great 

 Slave Lake, Rare or casual in New England. Breeds throughout. Winters on our 

 southern border and beyond (to Guatemala). 



Extremely rare visitor; the only record of its occurrence- is that of Dr. 

 Kirtland, who says : " This unique bird has been killed by sportmen in 

 the vicinity of Cincinnati." 



Dr. Coues gives the following general account of their habits, and of 

 his observations of them on the plains in June, 1864 : 



" In the United Stat«s and northward the Avooet is chiefly a summer visitor, enter- 

 ing our limits from the South in spring, though many winter along our border. A past 

 of the birds scatter over the United States, and others go further north, to breed ; for 

 they raise their young with equal facility from the latitude of the Middle States — or 

 even further south, especially in the West — to that, for instance, of Great Slave Lake." 



"The Avocets were in full plumage, with the head and neck cinnamon color; and, 

 from their actions, I had no doubt they had nests somewhere about the ponds. They 

 were quite gentle and familiar, and not at aU disturbed by my approach, displaying a 

 characteristic of theirs during the breeding season, at least in regions where they are 

 not often molested, and have, therefore, not learned a wholesome dread of man. They 

 walked leisurely about, up to the belly in the water, with graceful, deliberate steps, 

 each of which was accompanied by a swaying of the head and neck, as usual with birds 

 of similar form. When approached too closely, they rose lightly from the water, utter- 

 ing their peonliar cries, flapped leisurely to a little distance, and again alighted to pur- 

 sue their peaceful search for food, forgetting, or at least not heeding, their recent 

 alarm. As they rose from the water, their singular, long legs were suffered to dangle 

 for a few moments, but were afterward stretched atifily backward, as a counterpoise to 

 their long neck* ; and, thus balanced, their lithe bodies were supported with greatest 

 ease by their ample wings. When about to realight, they sailed without flapping for a 

 little distance, just eleaiing the water, their legs again hanging loosely ; as they touched 

 the ground, their long wings were held almost upright for an instant, thou deliberately 

 folded and settled in place with a few slight motions." 



The eggs of the Avocet are described as varying in ground-color from 

 dark-olive to buff, uniformly spotted with chocolate-brown and neutral 

 tint. They measure about 2.00 by 1.40. 



Genus KIMANTOPUS Brisson. 

 Hind toe aljsent; anterior toes semipalmate ; bill nearly etraight, not flattened. 



