The American Avocet 



Taken in Merced County 



A VENTURESOME INFANT 



Photo by the A uthor 



Once, for experi- 

 ment's sake, we followed, 

 and the waders flopped 

 along in manifest de- 

 light, coaxing us up on 

 shore and making off 

 through the sage-brush 

 with broken legs and use- 

 less wings. But we came 

 back, finding it better to 

 let the birds make the 

 advances. Mr. Bowles 

 hit upon the scheme of 

 splashing gently in the 

 water, and it served ad- 

 mirably to excite the 

 birds and make them 

 reckless; and the click, 



Taken in Washington 



Photo by the Author 



NEST AND EGGS OF AMERICAN AVOCET 



1200 



