A M E R I C A N AVOSET.
BJBCUBVIBOSTBA AMEBICAXA, GMKL.
P L A T E CCCXVIII. ADI-LT MAI.E, AND Yoifrio IN WINTER.
THE fact of this curious bird's breeding in the interior of our country
accidentally "became known to mo in June 18.1/1. I was at the time
travelling on horseback from Henderson to Vincennes; Bits the. State, of
Indiana. As I approached: a large shallow pond in the. neighbourhood
of the latter town, I was struck by the sight of several Avusots.hovering
over the. margins and islets of the pond, and although it was late,
and I was both fatigued and hungry, I could not resist the temptation
of endeavouring to; find the cause of their being so far from the Sea.
Leaving my horse at liberty, I walked toward the pond, when, on being
at once assailed by four of the birds, I felt confident that they had
nests, and that their mates were either sitting or tending their young.
The pond, which was about two hundred yards in length, ipf. half
as wide, was surrounded by tall bulrushes extending to some distance
from the margin. Near its centre were soveral ¡slots, eight or
ten. yards in length, and disposed in a line. Having made my way
through the rushes, I found the water only a few inches deep ; but the
mud reached above my knsês, as I j carefully advanced towards the
nearest island. The four birds kept up a constant noise, remained on
wing, and at times dived through the air until close to ine, evincing
their displeasure at my intrusion- My desire to shoot them however
was restrained by my anxiety to study their habits as olosely^as possible;
and as soon as I had searched the different inlets, and found three
nests with eggs, and a female with her brood, I returned to my horse,
and proceeded to Vincennes, about two miles distant. Next morning
at sunrise I was snugly concealed amongst the rushes, with a fair view
Of the whole pond. In about .an hour the male birds ceased to fly over
me, and betook themselves to fteir ordinary occupations, when I noted
the following particulars.
On alighting, whether on the water or on the ground, the American
Avoset keeps its wings raised until it has fairly settled. If in the water,
it stands a few minutes balancing its head and neck, somewhat in
the manner of the Tell-tale Godwit. After this it stalks about search-
AMERICAN AVOSET. 169
ing for food, or runs after it, sometimes swimming for a yard or so
while-passing from one shallow to another, or wading up to its body,
with the wings partially, raised. Sometimes they would enter among
the rushes,i and disappear for several minutes. They kept apart, but
crossed each other's path in hundreds of ways,vail perfectly silent, and
without shewing the least symptom of enmity towards each other, although
whenever a Sandpiper came near, they would instantly give
chaw trait. ••On several:occasions, when I purposely sent forth.a loud
shrill whistle without, stirring,, they would suddenly cease,from their
rambling, raise up their body and neck, emit each two or three notes,
and remain several-minutes .on the. alert, after which they would fly to
their nests! sand then return. They search for food precisely in the
manner of the llosoate Spoonbill, moving their heads to and fro sideways,
while their bill is passing, through the soft mud; and in many
instances*! when the water was deeper, they would immerse their whole
W a n d a portion of- the nock, as the Spoonbill and Bed-breasted
Snipe are wont to do. / When,, on the contrary, they pursued aquatic
insects, such as swim ;|tt the surface, they ran after, them, and on jet -
ting up to. them,, suddenly seized them by thrusting the lower mandible
' beneath them, while the. other was raised a good way above the surface,
much in the manner of the Black Shear-water, which however performs
this act: f l i wing: They were: also,'expert at catching flying insects,
after which they ran with partially expanded wings.
I watched them as they were thus engaged about an hour, when
they all flew to the islets where the females were, emitting louder notes
- 'than usual. The; different; pairs seemed to congratulate; each other,
using various curious gestures;; and presently those which had been sitting,
left: the task to their mates; and betook themselves to the water,
when they washed, shook their wings and taU, as if either heated or
tormented, by insects, and then proceeded to search for food in the
manner above described. Now, Reader, wait a few moments until I eat
my humble breakfast.
About eleven o'clock the heat had become intense, and the Avosets
gave sp their search, each retiring to a different part of the pond, where,
after pluming themselves* they drew their heads close to their shoulders,
and remained perfectly still, as if asleep, for about an hour, when
they shook themselves simultaneously, took to wing, and rising to the
height of thirty or forty yards, flew off towards the waters of the Wabash
River. -