The Black-necked Stilt 



Taken in Merced County 



apprehensive is the bird of the growing 

 necessity, that as often as she leaves the 

 nest she Avill seize loose material and fling 

 it over her shoulder for future use. The 

 eggs themselves, protectively colored in 

 bister and black, are mauled about and 

 soiled in the mud ; but the day is 

 saved. I have seen a Stilt, painfully 

 conscious no doubt, squatted on a 

 truncated cone of vegetation eight 

 inches in height and as broad across 

 the top, — a veritable Noah's ark of safety. 

 One other danger the Stilts know- 

 right well, and that is the wandering hoof 

 of careless cattle. In a certain field near 

 Los Banos our attention was called to a 

 group which occupied a small grass- 

 covered island a little off the road. Half 

 a dozen cattle stood about in wooden attitudes, while within three feet of 

 one of them crouched a Stilt upon her nest. Beside her stood her valiant 

 mate, shouting lustily and fluttering his wings frantically to keep off the 

 bovines. The cattle did respect the birds' rights, too, for they sheered 

 away from them as they left the island at our approach. Another ani- 

 mated group we saw at a distance in the same pasture. An excited female 

 Stilt was standing on the rim of her nest and sparring with an 



inquisitive calf, JM while two of her courageous companions 

 were endeavoring ^^ to dissuade a steer from further progress. 



Photo by the Author 



"PALE AND TOTTERY" 



Taken in Kern County 



THE SHOW IS OVER 



Photo by Dickey 



I2I4 



