A62 BIRDS—RECURVIROSTRIDA. 
pale blue, with part of the webs flesh-colored. The plumage is white, changing, to cin- 
namon or chestnut on the neck and head; the back, wing-coverts, and primaries black, 
contrasting with the white of the scapulars and rump. In-size the bird is extremely 
variable ; perhaps seventeen inches in total length by thirty in extent represents aver- 
age measurements. Contrary to the rule among waders, the female is smaller than the 
male.” (Coues, Birds N. W., 462.) 
Habitat, United States and British Provinces. North to the Saskatchewan and Great 
Slave Lake. Rare or casuel in New England. Breeds throughout. Winters on our 
southern border and beyond (to Guatemala), 
Kixtremely rare visitor; the only record of its occurrence is that of Dr. 
Kirtland, who says: “This unique bird has been killed by sportmen in 
the vicinity of Cincinnati.” 
Dr. Coues gives the following general account of their habits, ites of 
his observations of them on the plains in June, 1864; 
‘“‘In the United States and northward the Avecet is chiefly a summer visitor, enter- 
ing our limits from the South in spring, though many winter along our border. <A part 
of the birds scatter over the United States, and others go further north, to breed; for 
they raise their young with equal facility from the latitude of the Middle States—or 
even further south, especially in the West—-to that, for instance, of Great Slave Lake.” 
‘¢The Avocets were in fall plumage, with the head and neck cinnamon color; and, 
from their actions, I had no doubt they had nests somewhere about the ponds. They 
were quite gentle and familiar, and not at all disturbed by my approach, displaying a 
characteristic of theirs during the breeding season, at least in regions where they are 
not often molested, and have, therefore, not learned a wholesome dread of man. They 
walked leisurely about, up to the belly in the water, with graceful, deliberate steps, 
each of which was accompanied by a swaying of the head and neck, as usual with birds 
of similar form. When approached too closely, they rose lightly from the water, utter- 
ing their peculiar cries, flapped leisurely to a little distance, and again alighted to pur- 
gue their peaceful search for food, forgetting, or at least not heeding, their recent 
alarm. As they rose from the water, their singular, long legs were suffered to dangle 
for a few moments, but were aiterward stretched stiffly backward, as a counterpoise to 
their long necks; and, thus balanced, their lithe bodies were supported with greatest 
ease by their ample wings. When about to realight, they sailed without flapping for a 
little distance, just clearing the water, their legs again hanging loosely ; as they touched 
the ground, their long wings were held almost upright for an instant, then deliberately 
folded and settled in place with a few slight motions.” 
The eggs of the Avocet are described as varying in ground-color from 
dark-olive to buff, uniformly spotted with chocolate-brown and neutral 
tint. They measure about 2.00 by 1.40, : 
Genus HIMANTOPUS Brisson. 
Hind toe absent; anterior toes semipalmate; bill nearly straight, not flattened. 
