28 
AMERICAN AVOSET. 
flock of five while feeding. He saw several large flocks on the same grounds, 
and assured me that the only note they emitted was a single whistle. He 
also observed their manner, of feeding, which he represented as similar to 
that described above. 
My friend Thomas Nuttall says in a note, that he “ found this species 
breeding on the islands of shallow ponds throughout the Eocky Mountains 
about midsummer. They exhibited great fear and clamour at the approach 
of the party, but no nests were found, they being then under march.” Dr. 
Kichardson states, that it is abundant on the Saskatchewan Plains, where it 
frequents shallow lakes, and feeds on insects and small fresh-water Crustacea. 
The flight of the American Avoset resembles that of the Himantopus 
nigricollis. Both these birds pass through the air as if bent on removing to 
a great distance, much in the manner of the Tell-tale Godwit, or with an 
easy, rather swift and continued flight, the legs and neck fully extended. 
When plunging towards an intruder, it at times comes downwards, and 
passes by you, with the speed of an arrow from a bow, but usually in moving 
off again, it suffers its legs to hang considerably. I have never seen one of 
them exhibit the bending and tremulous motions of the legs spoken of by 
writers, even when raised suddenly from the nest ; and I think that I am 
equally safe in saying, that the bill has never been drawn from a fresh speci- 
men, or before it has undergone a curvature, which it does not shew when 
the bird is alive. The notes of this bird resemble the syllable click , some- 
times repeated in a very hurried manner, especially under alarm. 
American Avocet, Recurvirostra Americana , Wils. Arner. Orn., vol. vii. p. 126. 
Recurvirostra Americana, Bonap. Syn., p. 394. 
Recurvirostra Americana, American Avocet, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Araer., 
vol. ii. p. 375. 
American Avocet, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 74. 
American Avocet, Recurvirostra Americana, And. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 168. 
Male, 18, 301. 
Passes along the coast from Texas northward, in small numbers, a few 
breeding in New Jersey. Indiana-, Illinois, and Missouri. Abundant in the 
Eocky Mountains and the Fur Countries. Migratory. 
Adult Male. 
Bill more than twice the length of the head, very slender, much depressed, 
tapering to a point, and slightly recurved. Upper mandible with the dorsal 
line straight for half its length, then a little curved upwards, and at the tip 
slightly decurved, the ridge broad and flattened, the edges rather thick, the 
nasal groove rather long and very narrow. Nostrils linear, basal, pervious. 
Lower mandible with the angle long and very narrow, the dorsal line 
