. . servers their call is described as the bark of the avocet. They wade into the water up to theirbreasts, and, if progress on foot is difficult, they swimbuoyantly about after the manner of our phalaropes. The plumage has a beautiful pinkish cast about thehead, neck, and breast. Individual birds differ considerablyin plumage and size of bill. The wings show less develop-ment than those of most waders. Probably no other wader is more closely featheredunderneath than this species. The covering resembles thatof our gulls, which explai
. . servers their call is described as the bark of the avocet. They wade into the water up to theirbreasts, and, if progress on foot is difficult, they swimbuoyantly about after the manner of our phalaropes. The plumage has a beautiful pinkish cast about thehead, neck, and breast. Individual birds differ considerablyin plumage and size of bill. The wings show less develop-ment than those of most waders. Probably no other wader is more closely featheredunderneath than this species. The covering resembles thatof our gulls, which explains the birds ability to alight indeep water and swim about without wetting the flesh. Four buffy brown, black-spotted eggs are deposited in alittle depression close to the waters edge. The birds arenot close sitters, but manifest an uneasiness at the approachof man. THE BLACK-NECKED STILT* Stilt would be a peculiarly appropriate name for thisbird, with its excessively long legs, were it less graceful anddignified in its walk, moving on land with easy and meas-. BLACK NECKI D mii Himantopus mexicanus).Life ize MARSH BIRDS 119 ured tread, not in a tremulous manner, says ColonelGoss, as stated by some writers. The stilt is an inhabitant of temperate North Americafrom New Brunswick, Maine, Minnesota, and Oregonsouthward; south in winter to Peru, Brazil, and WestIndies. This slender wader inhabits the shores of bays, ponds,and swales where scantily covered with short grasses. Itswims buoyantly and gracefully, and on land runs swiftly,with partially raised wings, readily tacking or stopping inits chase after insect life. Its flight, says Goss, is not veryswift, but strong and steady, with sweeping strokes, legsfully extended, and head partially drawn back, after themanner of the avocet, and, like the latter, will often meetone a long distance from its nest, scolding and threatening. The food of the Black-necked Stilt consists of insects,minute shellfish, and larva?, and various small
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