324 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



raette River. It was shot while swimming lightly on the water, and 

 throwing its head frequently forward, like some species of geese. 



" Large flocks of Phalaropes were seen about midway between the 

 Sandwich Islands and the Columbia River. Their flight was wild 

 and swift, and they frequently alighted on the surface of the sea. At 

 a distance they resembled this species, but none allowed the ship to 

 approach sufficiently near to enable us to feel certain of their identity." 



Dr. Pickering notes the occurrence of this bird also on the Sacra- 

 mento River, California. 



9. Genus RECURVIROSTRA, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. I, p. 25G (1766). 

 1. Recurvirostea AMERICANA, Qmelin. — The American Avocet. 



Recurvirostra americana, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 693 (1788). 



Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, Plate LXIII, fig. 2 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate 

 CCCXVIII ; Oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLIII. 



Noticed by the naturalists of the Expedition in Oregon and Cali- 

 fornia. 



Mr. Peale states that this bird is "not uncommon in Oregon, and is 

 common in California. Young birds have the head, back of the neck, 

 and part of the scapulars, pale cinereous." The young of this species 

 he regards as identical with that immediately succeeding, in which 

 conclusion, however, we do not coincide. 



2. Recurvirostra occidentalis. Vigors. — The White Avocet. 



Recurvirostra occidentalis, Vigors, Zool. Jour. IV, p. 356 (1829). 



Voy. Blossom, Birds, Plate XII; Cassin, B. of Cal. and Texas, T, 

 Plate XL. 



Mentioned by Dr. Pickering as occurring in Oregon. 



This bird is easily recognized and distinguished from the preceding, 

 by the pure white plumage of the head and the greater portion of the • 

 body. It is now a well-known species of Western North America. 



