344 GAME BIBDS OF CALIFOBNIA 



has obtained in the case of more desirable game species, such as the 

 curlew. As the Avocet affects a type of habitat not encroached upon 

 by agricultural development, its breeding and feeding ranges have not 

 been measurably restricted. The large size of this wader combined 

 with its striking coloration and its open habitat render it a conspicuous 

 object for pursuit, though this is oifset to some degree by its rapidly 

 acquired wariness when repeatedly molested. It would appear that 

 a brief open season early in the fall and limited bag, for the benefit of 

 those hunters who care for this bird, might be safely allowed as long 

 as present conditions remain unchanged. 



Black-necked Stilt 



Himantopus mexicanus (Miiller) , 



Other names — Lawyer; Tilt; Jack Snipe (in San Joaquin Valley); Long- 

 shanks; Himantopus nigricolUS. 



Description — Adult male: Front of head, lower eyelid, spot behind eye, 

 and all of under surface of body, white, save that, in breeding season, fore- 

 neck and breast are pervaded with pale pink; vertical line in front of eye, 

 cheek, top and back of head, hind neck, upper back, and outer surface of 

 closed wing, continuously black, showing a greenish sheen in certain lights; 

 lower back, rump and upper tail coverts, white; inner tail feathers drab, darker 

 toward tips, outer ones lighter; shafts of all tail feathers white; whole under 

 surface of closed wing dull black; axillara white; iris carmine red; bill black; 

 feet dull old rose color, nails black; hind toe wanting. Total length 13.75-15.00 

 inches (349-381 mm.) (four specimens); folded wing 8.63-9.05 (219-230); 

 bill along culmen 2.49-2.71 (63.2-68.6); tarsus 4.37-4.83 (111.0-122.5) (nine 

 specimens). Adult female: Similar to adult male but never acquiring pinkish 

 tinge on breast, and back, scapulars and tertials dull brownish black instead 

 of metallic greenish black. Total length 13.12-17.12 inches (333-434 mm.) 

 (ten specimens); folded wing 8.30-9.17 (211-233); bill along culmen 2.36-2.64 

 (60.0-67.0); tarsus 3.81-4.38 (96.8-111.2) (ten specimens); all from California. 

 Juvenile plumage: Similar to that of adult female, but feathers of the dark 

 upper surface and lining of wing narrowly bordered with buff or dull whitish, 

 giving a faintly scaled effect. Natal plumage: tipper surface mixed tawny 

 and blackish in fine pattern; elongated spot on middle of back, and stripe 

 along side of back, black; under surface pale tawny paling to whitish on 

 throat and belly; bill deep mouse gray; legs and feet grayish blue. 



Marks for field identification — ^In flight: long neck, long legs stretched 

 out behind, and long slender white body, strongly contrasted with the black 

 wings; when on ground or wading: the same contrasted color areas, moderately 

 large size, red legs, and straight black bill (pi. 11 and fig. 62). 



Voice — A sharp ip-ip-ip (Chapman, 1912, p. 242); when courting: a nasal 

 quanlc. 



Nest — Variously located on dry bare ground, on small muddy islands, or 

 even in water a few inches deep; structure varies with location, from mere 

 depressions with sparse lining of grass to relatively elaborate platforms of 

 weed, or grass stems, or tules. 



