132 NESTS AND ECfOS OF 



225 AMEBICAN AVOCET. Recurvirostra amerieana Gm. Geog. Dist.— Tem- 

 perate portions of North America, from the Saskatchewan country and Great Slavs 

 Lake southward; in winter to Guatemala and the West Indies. 



A bird of striking appearance, of odd coloration, having extraordinarily long 

 legs; feet webbed like those of a" swimming bird; body flattened underneath, and 

 duck-like plumage to resist the water. The most striking characteristic of the bird, :; 

 iowever, is its long, decidedly up-urned bill, anii from its blue legs it receives the 



225. European Avocet. Not distinguishable in cut from our American species (From Brehm). 



name of Blue-stocking. It is very abundant in the West, on the plains of the Da- 

 kotas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. In these regions it breeds in June, 

 nesting in the tall grass in marshy or wet places. The eggs vary from a dark olive 

 to buff, pretty uniformly and profusely spotted with chocolate-brown of various 

 shades; they vary in size, shape and mai;kings like the birds themselves; three or 

 four in number; sizes from 1.80 to 2.10 in length by 1.25 to 1.45 in breadth. 



226. BLACK-NECKED STILT. Himaiitnpiis mexicanus (Mull.) Geog. Dist.— 

 Temperate North America from Northern United States southward to West Indies, 

 Brazil, and Peru. 



