AMERICAN AYOSET. 
25 
me, and betook themselves to their ordinary occupations, when I noted the 
following particulars. 
On alighting, whether on the water or on the ground, the American 
Avoset keeps its wings raised until it has fairly settled. If in the water, it 
stands a few minutes balancing its head and neck, somewhat in the manner 
of the Tell-tale Godwit. After this it stalks about searching for food, or 
runs after it, sometimes swimming for a yard or so while passing from one 
shallow to another, or wading up to its body, with the wings partially raised. 
Sometimes they would enter among the rushes and disappear for several 
minutes. They kept apart, but crossed each other’s path in hundreds of 
ways, all perfectly silent, and without shewing the least symptom of enmity 
towards each other, although whenever a Sandpiper came near, they would 
instantly give chase to it. On several occasions, when I purposely sent forth 
a loud shrill whistle without stirring, they would suddenly cease from their 
rambling, raise up their body and neck, elnit each two or three notes, and 
remain several minutes on the alert, after which they -would fly to their nests, 
and then return. They search for food precisely in the manner of the 
Roseate Spoonbill, moving their heads to and fro sideways, while their bill 
is passing through the soft mud ; and in many instances, when the water was 
deeper, they would immerse their whole head and a portion of the neck, as 
the Spoonbill and Red-breasted Snipe are wont to do. When, on the con- 
trary, they pursued aquatic insects, such as swim on the surface, they ran 
after them, and on getting up to them, suddenly seized them by thrusting 
the lower mandible beneath them, while the other was raised a good way 
above the surface, much in the manner of the Black Shear-water, which, 
however, performs this act on wing. They were also expert at catching 
flying insects, after which they ran with partially expanded wings. 
I watched them as they were thus engaged about an hour, when they all 
flew to the islets where the females were, emitting louder notes than usual. 
The different pairs seemed to congratulate each other, using various curious 
gestures ; and presently those which had been sitting left the task to their 
mates, and betook themselves to the water, when they washed, shook their 
wings and tail, as if either heated, or tormented by insects, and then proceed- 
ed to search for food in the manner above described. Now, reader, wait a 
few moments until I eat my humble breakfast. 
About eleven o’clock the heat had become intense, and the Avosets gave 
up their search, each retiring to a different part of the pond, where, after 
pluming themselves, they drew their heads close to their shoulders, and 
remained perfectly still, as if asleep, for about an hour, when they shook 
themselves simultaneously, took to wing, and rising to the height of thirty 
or forty yards, flew off towards the waters of the Wabash river. 
Yol. VI. 4 
