254 



' ORDEES OF BIRDS— SHOEE-BIEDS 



prairies of Iowa, regardless of ponds or streams, 

 where it sought every sort of animal life small 

 ent)ugh to be swallowed. It is easily recognized, 

 even in flight, by its long, curved bill. In its 

 form, its beak and its legs, it is almost a per- 

 fect counterpart of a typical ibis, but it has 

 the mechanically mottled plumage of a typi- 

 cal shore-bird. Although by some ornitholo- 

 gists this bird is credited to the whole length 

 a'nd breadth of the United States, there cer- 

 tainly are some very wide regions from which 

 it is totally absent. In various localities it 

 has various names, some of which are Sickle- 

 Bill, Saber Bill, Smoker, Spanish Curlew and 

 Mowyer. 



This bird is very sympathetic toward its 

 wounded mates, and in response to the cries of 

 a bird that has been shot, a flock sometimes 

 will return, and with loud cries circle near the 

 gunner, at close range, until several more have 

 been brought down. (D. G. Elliot.) 



Besides the shore-birds mentioned above, 

 there are several groups which are of interest 

 chiefly to the special student, and which there 

 is no space to introduce here, save by name. 

 There are the oyster-catchers, turnstones, god- 

 wits, stilts, and phalaropes. In the Order 

 Ldmicolae as a whole there are in North America, 

 north of Mexico, about seventy-five species 

 and subspecies. 



