362 CHAEADEnD^. 



Cozumel I., Holbox I. (Gaumer ^^ ^^) ; Guatemala {Constanda i^, ^% San Jose i^, 

 Chiapam ^3 (0. S.) ; Hondtjeas, Euatan I. {Gaumer '* ^^) ; Nicakagua, Momotombo 

 {Richardson i*) ; Costa Rica, Rio Frio {Richmond »), Las Trojas {Zeledon ®) ; 

 Pa>-a3ia {M'Lea'nnan^'^).—GviA.^A^*; Amazoxs^*; Perui*; Galapagos Is."; 



Antilles i*. 



This Stilt is rather plentifully distributed over some of the Western and Gulf 

 States of North America, breeding in South-eastern Oregon and on the Great Salt Lake 

 southwards to Texas and Florida. The species appears to be migratory in Central 

 America, as Grayson states ^^ that it arrives at Mazatlan in October and remains till 

 April, during which season it is abundant. Most of our specimens have been procured 

 during the winter months, but Mr. Richardson obtained one in Nicaragua on the 29th 

 of May 1*, and Dr. Gaumer met with two individuals on Cozumel Island in June i*. 

 In Guatemala, Salrin noticed it in some numbers at Chiapam, on the Pacific side, 

 but there the species was in small flocks ^^. 



In North America, H. mexicanus is generally seen in small parties on the shores of 

 inland lakes and on the flats near the sea-shore. The long legs and stalking gait 

 make it a conspicuous object, and the flight is also noteworthy, as the bird turns 

 its black back and pure white under surface alternately to the light. It has the 

 habit of wading out to a considerable distance, often plungiug its head and neck 

 under water in pursuit of prey, which consists of small Crustacea, worms, insects, &c. 

 The nest is sometimes a small structure of straw and grass just raised above the 

 level of the water, but is generally a slight depression in the sand ^^. The eggs are 

 three or four in number, and are described as having the ground-colour drab, 

 brownish-olive, occasionally rufous, blotched and spotted with brownish-black ^^. 



RECURVIROSTRA. 



Recurvirostra, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 256 (1766) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. AIus. xxir. p. 326 

 (1896). 



The Avocets are long-legged birds like the Stilts, but they are easily recognizable 

 from the latter, not only by the upturned form of the bill, but by the presence of a 

 hind toe and an interdigital web connecting the front toes. The legs are not 

 abnormally developed as in the Stilts, but they are, nevertheless, decidedly long, and 

 the tarsus is twice the length of the middle toe and claw. The bill is smooth 

 throughout, tapering gradually to a very slender tip, which is turned upwards, but 

 the genys, or under surface of the lower mandible, is curiously flattened, and is used 

 for scattering the sand as the birds search for their food. 



Four species of Recurvirostra are known, of which one, R. americana, is found 

 within our limits. 



