White Snipe, Yelper, Lawyer, and Scooper are some of the popular
names applied in various localities to this remarkably long-legged and
long and slender-necked creature, which is to be found in temperate
North America, and, in winter, as far south as Cuba and Jamaica. In
north-eastern Illinois the Avocet generally occurs in small parties the
last of April and the first of May, and during September and the early
part of October, when it frequents the borders of marshy pools. The
bird combines the characteristics of the Curlew and the Godwit, the bill
being recurved.
The cinnamon color on the head and neck of this bird varies with the
individual; sometimes it is dusky gray around the eye, especially in the
younger birds.
The Avocet is interesting and attractive in appearance, without having
any especially notable characteristics. He comes and goes and is rarely
seen by others than sportsmen.
[Illustration: From col. F. M. Woodruff.
AMERICAN AVOCET.]
BIRD SONG--Continued from page 1.
Many of our singing birds may be easily identified by any one who
carries in his mind the images which are presented in our remarkable
pictures. See the birds at home, as it were, and hear their songs.
Those who fancy that few native birds live in our parks will be
surprised to read the following list of them now visible to the eyes of
so careful an observer as Mr. J. Chester Lyman.
"About the 20th of May I walked one afternoon in Lincoln Park with a
friend whose early study had made him familiar with birds generally, and
we noted the following varieties:
1 Magnolia Warbler.
2 Yellow Warbler.
3 Black Poll Warbler.
4 Black-Throated Blue Warbler.
5 Black-Throated Queen Warbler.
6 Blackburnian Warbler.
7 Chestnut-sided Warbler.
8 Golden-crowned Thrush.
9 Wilson's Thrush.
10 Song Thrush.
11 Catbird.
12 Bluebird.
13 Kingbird.
14 Least Fly Catcher.
15 Wood Pewee Fly Catcher.
16 Great Crested Fly Catcher.
17 Red-eyed Vireo.
18 Chimney Swallow.
19 Barn Swallow.
20 Purple Martin.
21 Red Start.
22 House Wren.
23 Purple Grackle.
24 White-throated Sparrow.
25 Song Sparrow.
26 Robin.
27 Blue Jay.
28 Red-Headed Woodpecker.
29 Kingfisher.
30 Night Hawk.
31 Yellow-Billed Cuckoo.
32 Scarlet Tanager, Male and Female.
33 Black and White Creeper.
34 Gull, or Wilson's Tern.
35 The Omni-present English Sparrow.
"On a similar walk, one week earlier, we saw about the same number of
varieties, including, however, the Yellow Breasted Chat, and the
Mourning, Bay Breasted, and Blue Yellow Backed Warblers."
The sweetest songsters are easily accessible, and all may enjoy their
presence.