320 PLOVER. 



The Long-legged Plover is said to arrive on the sea coast of 

 New Jersey, about the 25th of April, in small detached flocks of 

 twenty or thirty, which sometimes subdivide into lesser parties, but 

 rarely in solitary pairs ; as in the breeding season they usually asso- 

 ciate in small companies, and frequent shallow ponds, into which 

 they can wade by means of their long legs, in all directions, feeding 

 on minute shell fish, aquatic insects, and their larvae. About the 

 first week in May, they begin to construct their nests, at first com- 

 posed of a small quantity of old grass ; as they continue to lay and 

 sit, the nest is increased in height, with dry twigs, roots of the salt 

 grass, sea-weed, and various other substances, so as to weigh between 

 two and three pounds. They lay four dark yellowish clay-coloured 

 eggs, thickly blotched with black : they build in society, and the 

 nests are often placed within fifteen or twenty yards of each other, 

 yet the greatest harmony prevails among the proprietors. 



They are known in America by the name of Stilt, Tilt, or Long- 

 shanks, and depart southward in September. 



The American Ornithologist is of opinion, that this bird is a 

 true Avoset, contrary to his predecessors in that branch, who have 

 ranked it with the Plovers. 



6 —HIGH-LEGGED PLOVER. 



Charadrius grallarius, hid. Orn. Sup. p. lxvi. 

 High-legged Plover, Gen. Syn. Sup. ii. 319. 



LENGTH thirty inches from the bill to the end of the toes. Bill 

 straight, black ; irides yellow ; crown of the head, back, and wings, 

 blue grey, marked with black streaks, largest on the back and 

 crown ; irides yellow ; beneath the eyes, on the ears, a large patch 

 of brown ; under parts dusky white, streaked on the neck and breast 

 with pale brown ; inner ridge of the wing ferruginous; quills black ; 

 legs very long, but little inferior to those of the Long-legged Species, 

 colour pale blue. — Inhabits New South Wales. 



