FOOD OF AMERICAN PHALAKOPES, AVOCETS, AND STILTS 17 
ground, their long, red legs hanging straight down. The dead black 
of the upperparts with its greenish sheen and the pure white of the 
breast form a pleasing contrast of color, which, with the greatly 
elongated legs, serves to distinguish the stilt from any other of our 
shorebirds. 
The nests and eggs of stilts are very similar to those of the avocet, 
and the young when first hatched closely resemble young avocets, 
but may be distinguished by the lack of a hind toe. The young 
grow rapidly, and the increase in the length of their legs is amazing. 
Until the bones are well formed the young, when not feeding, prefer 
to rest with the full length of the tarsus extended on the ground, 
but even then appear as tall as other shorebirds of similar body size. 
Stilts show considerable attachment for their young, and, unless 
dispersed by some untoward accident, frequently remain in family 
groups long after the young are able to care for themselves. As 
the latter become strong on the wing the family parties range over tne 
country in search of suitable feeding grounds. As the nights grow 
cold in the North the birds band together in larger flocks and finally, 
on some moonlit night in September, young and old may be heard 
calling as they pass overhead on their southward migration. 
Stilts feed by picking up insects on muddy shores or in shallow 
water, and though not averse to frequenting alkaline areas, on the 
whole prefer fresher water than do avocets. For detailed analysis, 
80 stomachs of the black-necked stilt were available, distributed 
from March to August, and collected in California, Utah, Florida, 
and Porto Rico. Vegetable food in these amounted to only 1.1 per 
cent, whereas the animal matter formed 98.9 per cent. The birds 
are adept in seizing rapidly-moving prey and in general are very 
methodical in their manner of obtaining food. Gravel is picked up 
to some extent to aid digestion, and part of the seeds taken may have 
been swallowed for the same purpose. 
ANIMAL FOOD 
The animal food of the black-necked stilt shows more diversity 
than in the case of preceding species, though some of the items taken 
are present in comparatively small quantity. 
Crustacea. — Crustaceans constitute 0.5 per cent of the total food 
and were identified in stomachs collected in March and April. In 
eight remains of crawfishes were found, an important item, as these 
animals are highly destructive to crops in some localities. 
Odonata. — Nymphs of dragonflies make up 2.9 per cent and were 
eaten by nine birds, mainly in April and July. 
TricJioptera. — Cases of caddisflies with their occupants were found 
abundantly in stomachs taken in March and April and amount to 
3.3 per cent of the entire food. In many instances the cases had 
been attached to submerged vegetation, part of which had come away 
when the container was torn loose and had been swallowed with the 
larvae. 
Agnatha. — Mayfly nymphs, a number of which were taken during 
April, were identified in five stomachs (1.3 per cent). 
Heteroptera. — Aquatic bugs with a few others were eaten in large 
quantities and amount to 35 per cent, the largest single item in the 
food of the stilt. They were found regularly in all months for which 
material was available. Water-boatmen (Corixidse), encountered 
