THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Stilts, flying right away from the nests and remaining away as long as any one 
was near ; whereas the Stilts showed great anxiety, fluttering closely round 
with legs outstretched behind and uttering their pecuflar puppy-hke cries. 
The outstretched legs of the Stilts, of a deep pink color, gave an impression at 
first glance of the birds having a tail hke the Tropic Bird. Single Avocets 
were occasionally observed at inland fresh-pools.” 
“ This weU-known wader was frequently observed in the shallow swamps 
near the Fitzroy River [North-west Australia]. Running amongst the weeds 
in the shallow swamp, the Avocet dexterously secures a supply of minute 
aquatic insects by the aid of its pecuhar awl-like bill. They were often seen 
in company with the White-headed Stilts.”* 
The type-bird figured and described was collected in the Northern Territory 
by the late WiUiam Stalker on February 1st, 1906. 
*Keartland, Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Austr., Vol. XXII., p. 186, 1898. 
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