204 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
spawn, which constitute its chief food. Its long legs enable it to 
travel in safety over swamps and lagoons ; it also swims with great 
ease. It may often be seen looking for its food on the margins of 
lakes and ponds. 
The Avocet stands about twenty inches in height, although its 
body is but little larger than a pigeon’s. It is a pretty bird, of slen- 
der make ; its plumage is black on the head and back, and white 
underneath. It is to be met with on both the Continents; the 
European species is common in Holland and on the French coast. 
Wild and shy in its nature, it is very difficult of approach, and is 
clever in avoiding snares, and ingenious in escaping pursuit, either 
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Fig. 109.—Avocet. 
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by flight or swimming. The nest of the Avocet is a very simple 
structure, generally made by placing a few blades of grass in a hole 
in the sand, where it lays two or three eggs, of which it is frequently 
robbed ; for, like those of the Plover and others, its congeners, they 
are regarded as great delicacies by the gourmand. The flesh, how- 
ever, is of little value. 
The Stilt Birds (Himantopus candidus, Fig. 110) obtain their name 
from the excessive length of their legs, which are also so slender and 
flexible that they can be bent considerably without breaking. Their 
feet are not so completely webbed as the species we have just men- 
tioned; the two membranes which unite the toes are unequal in 
size. The bill is long, slender, and sharp, like that of the Avocet, 
but straight ; the wings are long and pointed; the tail small. They 
are about the size of the Avocet, and sometimes attain the height of 
twenty-six inches. They possess considerable powers of flight, but 
walk with difficulty ; on the other hand, they are much at home on 
