Himantopus mexicanus. Black-necked Stilt. 
It is interesting to note the ability of this extraordinary Wader 
to swim when pressed by necessity, though it probably never 
exercises itself in this way under ordinary circumstances. While 
on the St. John’s River in April, 18S8, in company with my 
brother, we wounded a Black-necked Stilt that was yet able to 
use its legs and ran some distance along the shore ; but being 
pressed by our pursuit, it took to the river and swam for the 
opposite bank. One returned to the place where we had stepped 
ashore, to get the boat, while the other remained to watch the 
bird and direct the continuation of the pursuit. Before the boat 
could be brought up to the scene of action, the Stilt had crossed 
the river, but there it lost strength and lay helpless under the 
bank. In swimming, the Stilt had proceeded in a sort of sidling 
manner, and rising in the water with each stroke of the feet, and 
continually turning its head from side to side, it presented a 
foolish aspect, but its progress was remarkable when its ill adap- 
tation to swimming is considered. ATJEL y f Ooi 
Orange Oo, _ la* D.MortinaeEV 1290, , 33 v 
«=! ,-28 The Black Still. By A. M. Shields. Ibid . , p. 41.AUk.Vll. Jan.l 890 .P. U 
Young Ooi. 1 ^- 0 - 
On a Collection of Eggs from 
Georgia. H. B. Bailey. 
93. Himantopus mexicanus. Black-necked Stilt. Nests on the 
sand, near the sea or salt ponds; eggs four. May is;. 
Bull, N, 0,0, 3, Jan, 1883. p,42 
7 ? 
