FORM AND HABIT: THE BILL. 



33 



ble, wliich better enables them to grasp objects while 

 probing. In the Avocet the bill is curved upward, and the 

 bird swings it from side to side, scraping the bottom in 

 its search for food. The New _^— 



Zealand AVrvbill has its bill 

 turned to the right for the ter- 

 minal third, and the bird uses 

 it as a crooked probe to push 

 under stones in hunting for its 

 prej. The Siberian Spoonbill 

 Sandpiper has a most singular 

 bill, which is much enlarged at the end, suggesting a 

 flat-ended forceps. The Eoseate Spoonbill, an entirely 

 different bird, has a somewhat similarly shaped bill, a 

 striking instance of the occurrence of the same form in 

 families which are not closely related. 



But probably the most remarkable instance of relation 



21.— Bill of Spoonbill Sand- 

 piper. (J^atural size.) 



Fig. 22. — Curved bill of female, straight bill of male Iluia-bird. ( y, natural 

 size.) 



between the form of the bill and feeding habits is fur- 

 nished by the Huia-bird of ]^ew Zealand. The male of 

 this species has a comparatively short, straight bill, while 



Y 



