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Range (Temperate North America rare)

Temperate North America; rare or accidental on the Atlantic coast; breeds from Illinois, and rarely Texas, northward to the Saskatchewan; winters along the Gulf coast and south ward. Long Island, A. V.

Nest, a slight depression in the ground in marshy places. Eggs, three to four, pale olive or buffy clay-color, thickly spotted with chocolate, 1.95 x 1.35. Avocets are common birds in parts of the interior, but are rare on the Atlantic coast. They frequent shores and shallow pools, and in searching for shells, crustaceans, etc., their peculiar recurved bill is used in a most interesting manner. Dropping it beneath the surface of the water until its convexity touches the bottom, they move rapidly forward, and with every step swing their bill from side to side, as a mower does his scythe. In this way they secure food which the muddy water would prevent them from seeing. 226. Himantopus mexicanus (Müll.). BLACK-NECKED STILT. Ad. δ.-A white spot above and another below the eye; front of the head, front of the neck, lower back, rump, and under parts white; tail grayish; rest of the plumage glossy, greenish black. Ad. q. - Similar, but with the back fuscous-brown. Im.-Similar to the preceding, but head and neck more or less marked with white; back and scapulars bordered with white or whitish. L., 15.00; W., 9.00; Tar., 4·15; B., 2.00.