_Voice._--The avocet's vocabulary is not so elaborate as it is impressive. The commonest note, heard on the breeding grounds as a note of alarm or protest, is a loud, shrill whistle or yelping scream, which I have recorded in my notes as _wheat, wheat, wheat_. Others have recorded it as _plee-eek, plee-eek_, or _click, click, click_. It is always sharp and vehement, implying anger. I have also heard a softer note, uttered in a conversational tone, like _whick, whick, whick_, or _whuck, whuck, whuck_. Aretas A. Saunders contributes the following notes: About the nest colony the adults flew closely about my head, calling a short staccato call that sounded like _pink, pink, pink_. One bird pretended wounded in a different manner from what I have seen it done by other species. The bird sat on the water, dropped its head and neck down to the surface, half spread its wings, also dropping them on the water, and, lying almost still, called _oo-oo, oo-oo, oo-oo_, over and over, as though suffering great pain. The voice was low and not very loud, and not at all like the _pink, pink_ of the other birds. _Field marks._--The avocet, in its striking color pattern of black and white, could not be mistaken for anything else. A white tail, a black V on a white back, black wings with white secondaries and blue legs are all distinctive marks; the buff head and neck are nuptial adornments; in fall and winter these parts are grayish white. From the stilt it can be distinguished by its much stockier build, the absence of black on head and neck and by blue instead of pink legs. _Game._--Although it is a large, plump bird and would help to fill a game bag, there is no excuse for treating it as a game bird. It is so tame and so foolishly inquisitive that it would offer poor sport and would soon be exterminated. Furthermore its flesh is said to be worthless for the table. But above all, it is such a showy, handsome and interesting bird, that it ought to be preserved for future generations to enjoy. The destruction of its breeding grounds will exterminate it soon enough, as it has already been extirpated from its former range in the Eastern States. DISTRIBUTION _Range._--North America to northern Central America.