NATURAL HISTORY. 

 Sub-family c. Recurvirostrince. 



A. (Lat. with bill curved upwards.) 



343 



Avocetta, the Avocet. 



The bill in the genus Recurvirostra is exactly the reverse 

 of that in the genus Numenius, the curve being upwards in- 

 stead of downwards. The common AVOCET is spread through- 

 out the warmer regions of Europe, and is also found in some 

 parts of Africa. It is very common in Holland, and is frequent- 

 ly seen on the eastern coasts of England, but seldom visits 

 Scotland. It frequents marshes and the mouths of rivers, 

 where it finds in the mud myriads of the small worms and 

 insects on which it feeds, and which it obtains by scooping 

 them up from the mud with its curious curved bill. It is a 

 good swimmer, but seldom has recourse to that art except 

 when it wades unexpectedly out of its depth. 



The eggs of the Avocet are laid on the ground, in a de- 

 pression sheltered by a tuft of herbage. Their colour is a 

 bluish green, spotted with black. The birds when disturbed 

 at their nests feign lameness, like the lapwing, in order to 

 draw the intruder to a distance. The length of the bird is 

 eighteen inches. 



The curious Stilt Plover belongs to the Avocets. 



