SHORE BIRDS 
AVOCETS and STILTS. Family RECURVIROSTRID^ 
225. Avocet. Recurvirostra americana. 
Range. — Western North America, breeding 
north to Northwest Territory. 
The Avocet can be known from any other bird 
by its up-curved bill, light plumage, webbed feet 
and large size (length about 17 inches). These 
waders are quite numerous in suitable localities 
226. Black-necked Stilt. 
Himantopus mexicanus. 
Range. — Like the last, this species is rarely 
found east of the Mississippi, but is very abund- 
ant in the United States west of that river. 
A black and white wader, with ex- 
eremely long red legs; otherwise a grace- 
fully formed bird. It breeds in large 
colonies anywhere in its range, making 
its nests of weeds and sometimes a few 
twigs, on the ground beside of, or in the 
marshes. Their eggs number three or 
four and are brownish or greenish buff 
with numerous markings of brownish 
black, these markings being somewhat 
lengthened and mostly running length- 
wise of the shell. They nest during 
April in the southern parts of their Greenish buff, 
range and through May and June in the 
northern. Size of eggs 1.80 x 1.25. Data. — Freshwater Lake, southern Califor- 
nia, June 5, 1891. Four eggs laid on a mud flat near the water’s edge; no nest. 
Collector, Evan Davis. 
American Avocet 
Black-necked Stilt. 
Greenish buff. 
throughout the west, constructing their nests in 
the grass, bordering marshy places. The nest is 
simply a lining of grass in a hollow in the ground. 
They lay three or four eggs of a dark greenish 
or brownish buff color, boldly marked with 
brown and black. Size 1.90 xl.30. Data. — Rush 
Lake, Assiniboia. Four eggs laid in a depression 
in the sand, lined with dry weeds. Many birds 
nesting in the colony. 
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