PLOVERS, GULLS, AND AUKS 75 



disperse again in the spring. Worms, slugs, and insects form their 

 principal food. 



Of all the Plover tribe the Black-winged Stilt (Plate XIV. fig. 3) 

 is certainly one of the most remarkable. And this because of the 

 enormous length of the legs. Though reckoned among our British 

 birds, it is but a rare visitor to these islands ; but it is met with in 

 abundance in the marismas of Spain, the marshes of Sicily, and of the 

 Black, Caspian, and Oral Seas. It also nests freely around the lakes of 

 North Africa and parts of North India. When the ground is tolerably 

 dry, but little nest is made for the reception of the eggs ; when, however, 

 the ground is wetter, a more solid structure is made. The great length 

 of the legs is to be explained by the fact that this bird obtains most 

 of its food — which consists of small snails, gnats, and other flies and 

 beetles — by wading out into shallow water. 



Another very remarkable member of the Plover tribe is the Avocet 

 (Plate XV. fig. 4). In this bird the beak, which is long and slender, 

 is produced into a very delicate point, and curved upwards. 



At one time the Avocet bred in considerable numbers in Great 

 Britain, but drainage and the collector have combined to bring about 

 its extinction as a breeding species. It occurs, indeed, to-day only 

 fitfully. Could it, however, be efficiently protected by legislation, a 

 few pairs might still be induced to breed. Quite a large colony was 

 wiped out at Salthouse to supply the demand made for the feathers 

 of this bird by the ** fly-fishermen." 



Closely allied species occur in North and South America and in 

 the Australian region. 



We must turn now to the Snipes and Woodcocks — birds with which 

 most people are more or less familiar. The long, slender bills and 

 long legs which distinguish these birds show at once that they cannot 

 live long far away from water. They are indeed marsh- and swamp- 

 dwellers, living on worms and aquatic insects and small water-snails. 

 The worms are obtained by probing in the soft soil, and are apparently 

 detected by the tip of the beak, which is soft and very sensitive, being 

 supplied by a pair of large nerves. 



The Common Snipe is too well known to need description, but 

 we might draw attention to the fact that the long, buff-coloured stripes 

 which run along the back of the bird play a very important part. 



