346 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



a flock and scattered individuals at Hemet Lake, San Jacinto Moun- 

 tains, on August 6 and 21, respectively, 1908 (Grinnell and Swarth, 

 1913, p. 227). Clarke (1913, p. 218) records the birds as common 

 about Tulare Lake when he arrived on September 19, 1913, but says 

 that they gradually decreased in numbers up to October 7, when he 

 left. One was seen in the market at Stockton, October 18, 1890 (Beld- 

 ing, MS). It has been recorded as a "fall and winter migrant" at 

 Miller, Marin County (Kobbe, in Bailey, 1902, p. 1). Willett (1912a, 

 p. 35) states that the species leaves the coast of southern California 

 in October. A juvenile was taken at Mt. Eden, Alameda County, 

 November 17, 1895 (Mailliard coll.) ; others of the species were noted 

 at Riverdale (San Diego County?), as late as November 19, in 1891 

 ( Cooke, 1910, p. 21 ) ; and a specimen was taken at Bixby, Los Angeles 

 County, January 5, 1910 (Willett, 1912a, p. 35). These three records 

 are probably all of stragglers left behind by the migrating flocks. 



22183 



Fig. 62. Side of bill of Black-necked Stilt. 

 Natural size. 



The almost straight outline is characteristic 

 (compare with fig. 60). 



While Black-necked Stilts and Avocets commonly occur together, 

 the first named species is usually much more abundant than the 

 second. H. C. Bryant (1914e, p. 226) found this the case at Los 

 Baiios, where the Stilt was the most abundant species of water bird 

 breeding in the vicinity; and Goldman (1908&, p. 203) and Linton 

 (1908c, p. 197) indicate that the Stilt was the more abundant of the 

 two species on Tulare and Buena Vista lakes, respectively. Tyler (MS) 

 says that in Fresno County Stilts outnumber Avocets 100 to 1, and 

 as the Avocets are decreasing the disparity is increasing. 



The Black-necked Stilt is one of the easiest of birds to identify, 

 whether in flight or on the ground, by reason of its sharply contrasted 

 white body and black wings, long neck and long straight black bill 

 (fig. 62) and excessively long reddish legs (pi. 11). The Stilt may 

 always be distinguished from the Avocet by its lesser bulk, by the 

 black on the top of its head and hind neck, the absence of white on 

 its shoulders, its shorter and straighter bill and its longer and dull red, 

 instead of bluish, legs. In the breeding season the Stilt shows no rusty 



