AVOCET—Family Recurvirostridss. 
225. Recurvirostra americana. 17 inches. 
In summer the head and neck are pale cinnamon color; young 
birds and winter adults have the head and neck white. Feath¬ 
ers on the under part white and very thick and, duck-like, be¬ 
ing impervious to water. Bill slender and recurved; feet 
webbed. Large patches of white on the wings, making them 
very conspicuous at all times. During the breeding season, if 
not molested, they become very tame. 
Nest.—Is simply a lining of grass in a slight depression in 
the ground. They lay three or four eggs of a dark greenish or 
brownish buff color, spotted and blotched with brown and black 
(1.90 x 1.30). 
BLACK-NECKED STILT. 
226. Himantopus mexicanus. 15 inches. 
Legs extremely long and bright red; neck and bill moder¬ 
ately long and slender. Male black and white as shown; female 
and young with back brownish. They are strong and swift 
upon the wing. 
Nest.—On the ground, made of weeds, twigs and grass. 
Three or four eggs, greenish buff, with numerous markings of 
brown and black about the larger end. 
