Long intestines, like long bills, often exhibit great differences in the same species; for which reason characters taken from the length of these parts must be received with latitude. Even in the Rapacious Birds, in which the intestine is generally very short, considerable differences are observed in individuals of the same sex and size. It will be seen from the above statement that the Shoveller has a longer and more slender intestine than any other American duck. In this respect it is analogous to Pandion and Haliaetus among the Raptores; generalizing vaguely from the consideration of which, as some have done, one might be apt to conclude that it is more piscivorous than the Canvass-back and Pochard, which however is by no means the case. Although in some birds and mammalia a very elongated intestinal canal is connected with piscivorous habits, yet many birds which feed exclusively on fish, such as Gannets, Auks, and Guillemots, have the intestine of only moderate length or short. It appears simply that when for some reason resulting from the economy of the species, the intestine must be elongated, it is made proportionally narrow; whereas if it be expedient that it should be short, its calibre is increased. BLACK-NECKED STILT. _HIMANTOPUS NIGRICOLLIS_, VIEILL. PLATE CCCXXVIII. ADULT MALE. A few individuals of this singular species occasionally pass the winter in the lower parts of Louisiana, especially in the section called Oppellousas. I have also found it at the same period in the Floridas, but the greater number follow the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, and proceed beyond our southern limits. In April 1837, I observed their first appearance at Galveston Bay in Texas, where many remained until our departure. They were in small flocks, seldom composed of more than seven or eight individuals, which almost immediately separated into parties of two or three, and commenced their search for food. They kept about the small shallow brackish ponds on the islands of the bay, and now and then were observed following the sinuosities of bayous in company with other birds. They were much more shy than they are while breeding, and it was with some difficulty that we procured specimens. When one was killed, the rest would fly to a considerable distance, sometimes from one island to another, in a rapid manner, with regular beats of the wings, their necks and legs extended. On such occasions they uttered a whistling cry, different from the _cleek_, _cleek_, _cleek_, which they emit when they have nests or young. All the writers who have described the habits of this bird, allege that it walks with a “staggering gait;” but this is by no means the case, for they appeared to us to walk as firmly as any other long-legged birds, such as Herons, Curlews, and the American Avoset; and I had many opportunities of observing them, as had my friend EDWARD HARRIS, my son, and all the members of our party.