IJLACK-WINGED L(>NGSHANKS. 
188 
long legs, they seem to balance themselves with great 
difficulty. This singular manoeuvre is, no doubt, in- 
tended to induce a belief that they may be easily 
caught, and so turn the attention of" the person from 
the pursuit of their nests and young to themselves. 
They will occasionally swim for a few feet when they 
chance, in wading, to lose their depth. 
" The name by which this bird is known on the 
sea-coast is the Stilt, or Tilt, or Longshanks. They 
are but sparingly dispersed over the marshes, having, 
as has been already observed, their particular favourite 
spots, while, in large intermediate tracts, there are 
few or none to be found. They occasionally visit the 
shore, v/ading about in the water and in the mud in 
search of food, which they scoop up very dexterously 
with their delicately-formed bills. On being wounded 
while in the water, they attempt to escape by diving, 
at which they are by no means expert. In autumn 
their flesh is tender, and well tasted. They seldom 
raise more than one brood in the season, and depart 
for the south early in September. As they are well 
known in Jamaica, it is probable some of them may 
winter in that and other of the West India islands." 
Dr. Horsfield found this species in the island of 
Java; but he observes that the Javanese specimens 
differ from those of Europe in having the tint of 
cinereous on the tail much paler. 
