Avocets and Stilts 



sickle-bill, curves downward, just the reverse of the avocet's ; 

 neither is it used under water. 



The avocet is, perhaps, the best swimmer among the 

 waders, owing to its webbed toes. The thick, waterproof 

 plumage of its under parts keeps its body dry. When about to 

 alight it chooses either water or land, indifferently ; but it is al- 

 ways especially abundant in or about the alkaline marshes of the 

 interior. Not at all shy of man, it pays little attention to him 

 unless positively pestered, when^ springing into the air, and 

 trailing its long legs stiffly behind to balance its outstretched 

 neck, it flaps leisurely away to no great distance, calling back 

 click, click, click, a sharp and plaintive cry. A long sail on 

 motionless wings, and a drift downward, brings the bird to the 

 ground again, but tottering at first, as if it took time to regain 

 its equilibrium, just like a stilt. On alighting, it strikes an ex- 

 quisite pose, lifting its wings till they meet over its back, like 

 the terns and plovers, before folding them away under the 

 feathers on its side. 



The nest is a mere depression in the ground, in a tuft 

 of thick grass growing in some marshy place, and it may 

 be lined with fine grasses, though such luxury is not cus- 

 tomary. Three or four pale olive or yellowish clay colored eggs, 

 thickly spotted with chocolate brown, are a complement. Near 

 such a spot, the birds become clamorous and excitable, the 

 entire colony resenting any liberty taken by an intruder carrying 

 no more alarming weapon than a field glass. Still, a male 

 avocet, lost in rose colored day dreams as he paces up and down 

 near his nest, like the willet, on sentinel duty, rarely sees any- 

 thing that is not directly in his way. 



Black-necked Stilt 



(Himantopus mexicanus) 



Called also: LAWYER; LONGSHANKS; TILT; TILDILLO; 

 WHITE SNIPE. 



Length — About 15 inches. 



Male and Female — Mantle over back and wings black, also line 

 running up back of long neck and spreading over top and 

 sides of head below the eye. Tail grayish ; rest of plumage, 



