AMERICAN STIL1\ 
55 
tumn their flesh is tender, and well tasted. They seldom raise 
more than one brood in the season, and depart for t!\e south early 
in September. As they are well known in Jamaica, it is probable 
some of them may winter in that and other of the West India 
islands. 
The dimensions, colors and mai kings of a very beautiful spe- 
cimen of the American Stilt, newly shot, were as follow ; 
Length from the point of the bill to the end of the tail four- 
teen inches, to the tips of the wings sixteen ; extent twenty-eight 
inches; bill three inches long, slightly cui’ved upwards, tapciing 
to a fine point, the upper mandible rounded above, the wliole of a 
deep black color ; nostrils an oblong slit, pervious ; Longue short, 
pointed ; forehead, spot behind the eye, lower eyelid, sides of the 
neck, and whole lower parts, pure white ; back, rump and tail-co- 
verts also white, but so concealed by the scapulars as to appear 
black; tail even, or very slightly forked, and of a dingy white; the 
vent feathers reach to the tip of the tail below ; line before the eye, 
auriculars, crown, back part of the neck, scapulars, and whole 
wings, deep black, richly glossed with green; legs and naked thighs 
a fine pale carmine : the latter measure three, the former four, 
inches and a half in length, exceedingly thin, and so flexible that 
they may be bent considerably xvithout danger of breaking. I'liis 
thinness of the leg enables the bird to wade with expedition, and 
without fatigue. Feet three-toed, the outer toe connected to the 
middle one by a broad membrane ; wings long, extending, when 
shut, two inches beyond the tail, and sharp pointed ; irides a bright 
rich scarlet ; pupil black. In some, the white from the breast ex- 
tends quite round the neck, separating the black of the hind neck 
from that of the body ; claws blackish horn; lining of the wings 
black. 
The female is about half an inch shorter, and differs in having 
the plumage of the upper back and scapulars, and also the tertials, 
of a deep brown color. The stomach, or gizzard, is extremely 
