Black-necked Stilt 107 
Habits.—Henshaw found the Stilt associating with 
the Avocet and closely resembling it in nearly every 
respect, except that it does not swim readily, though 
other observers state that it occasionally does take to 
deep water ; as its toes are not webbed and its legs very 
long, this is as one would expect. Notwithstanding its 
long legs it is a graceful bird, and flies well and strongly, 
with head partially drawn back and its legs extended 
behind. 
As already stated Henshaw found a single nest at 
the San Luis Lakes, June 21st; it resembled in every 
way that of the Avocet, and was merely a depression 
in the ground lined with grasses ; it contained four eggs 
resembling those of the Avocet but smaller; they 
measured 1°74 x 1°30. 
Family SCOLOPACIDZ. 
This is the most extensive family of the order and 
contains the Snipes and Sandpipers. The bill is long, 
nearly always exceeding the head, and is generally covered 
with soft, sensitive skin throughout, and never ends in 
the hard swelling or dertrum so characteristic of the 
Charadriide ; it is straight or slightly up- or down-curved ; 
nostrils exposed, generally near the base of the nasal 
groove, which extends for half or three-quarters the 
length of the bill; tail of twelve feathers (except 
Gallinago) ; tarsus always scutellate in front and, with 
the exception of Numenius, behind as well; four toes 
present except in Calidris,; webbing variable. 
Genus PHILOHELA. 
. Bill long, straight and slender, covered with a soft and sensitive 
skin, and slightly swollen at the tip; culmen about twice the length 
of the tarsus; wings short and rounded, the three outer primaries 
attenuate and falcate and abruptly shorter than the fourth; tail short 
