AVOCET. 



lAMICOLAi. 



299 

 SCOLOPACID.E. 



Recuevikostea avocetta, Linnaeus*. 

 THE AVOCET. 



Recmvirostra avocetta. 



Recurvirostra, Linnceusf. — Beak very long, slender, weak, depressed 

 throughout its whole length, flexible, pointed, and curving upwards ; the upper 

 mandible grooved along the upper surface ; under mandible grooved along the 

 side. Nostrils on the upper surface of the beak, near its ba.se, linear, long. 

 Legs slender, long, great portion of the tibia naked ; three toes in front, hind 

 toe small, articulated high up on the tarsus, the anterior toes united as far as 

 the second articulation, by a membrane, the margin of which is concave. Wings 

 pointed ; the first quill-feather the longest in the wing. 



The Avocet is certainly a singular-looking bird, especially 

 in reference to its beak, wbich is curved upwards, and is 



• Rcmirrirnstra Avocdfa, Linna-us, Syst. Nat. Eil. 12, i. p. 25G (1766). 

 t loc. rit. 



