THE SHORE BIirRDs. 203 
coast at certain seasons, but are far less so at the 
present time. They are not mentioned by Warren 
as a bird of Pennsylvania, yet specimens have been 
killed on the shores of the Delaware within the boun- 
daries of that State. 
While a strictly shore bird in the Middle States, 
they are very abundant on the Western plains and in 
the States bordering on the Mississippi. Dr. Coues 
has given an excellent account of them as seen in the 
far West. 
The Stilt, or Black-necked Stilt, is another curious 
bird, in that its legs seem rather too long for the 
bird’s comfort, but they have never appeared to be a 
real hinderance, and, as has been stated, “as waders 
they are a great success.” At present they are much 
more abundant in the West—the far West—than along 
our Atlantic seaboard, except in Florida. This was 
probably not true of the bird originally, for the 
gradual disappearance only commenced about the 
beginning of the present century. 
Of these birds, Dr. Coues remarks as follows: 
“«« Avocets and Stilts correspond with each other in habits as closely 
as they doin form. One of the most marked physical differences is 
found in the structure of the feet. Avocets have a hind toe, which 
the Stilts have not, and their feet are almost completely webbed, so 
that they are among the best swimmers of the long-legged fraternity. 
Stilts, on the contrary, scarcely swim at all, and never except on an 
emergency. When the Avocets are wading about, it often happens 
that they get beyond their depth, when, instead of rising on wing, 
they keep on as if nothing had happened to take them off their feet.” 
The Woodcock is so highly prized as a dainty 
morsel, and is so persistently pursued in season by 
