THE STILT SANDPIPER 149 
The length of this species is from ten to 
eleven and one-half inches; its extent from sev- 
enteen to nineteen inches; bill from two to three 
inches long, varying much in specimens. A 
prime favorite with the shore gunner and a fine 
table bird, tender and well flavored. 
THE STILT SANDPIPER. 
(Micropalama himantopus.) 
Supposed to be found in all parts of the con- 
tinent, this is a rare bird in any part of North 
America and of even more uncommon occur- 
rence westward of the Rockies. This species 
breeds in the summer range of the family in the 
far north and in winter goes away to the south 
with the other shorebirds into their ranges of 
the West Indies, Central and South America. 
As a rule it travels in small flocks of its own 
kind or associates with the dowitchers and lesser 
yellow-legs, to the advantage of both these spe- 
cies, for the Stilt Sandpiper either has less con- 
fidence in mankind or is gifted with a more 
critical taste in music and is not so readily de- 
ceived by the marsh gunner’s whistle as are 
its friends. In its nesting, food and life habits 
