THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 151 



Disposition and Habits. — They are sociable, and 

 live in open country, sometimes high up in 

 mountains. 



Economic Qualities. — They are good eating. 



Captivity. — They can be kept, but have never been 

 brought to Europe. 



Distribution and Species. — South America. There 

 are only five species, of which the best-known is 

 the Common Seed-snipe {Thinocorys nimicivorus). 



Sheathbills {ChionididcB). 



Diagnosis. — White shore-birds, with short thick beaks 

 and longish legs, with small useless hind-toe. 



Size. — About that of a crow. 



Form. — Bill short, stout, covered with a horny sheath 

 at base ; feet with medium shanks, a short web 

 between the two outer front toes, hind-toe small 

 and useless. General proportions moderate, wings 

 rather long and pointed, with spurs at the pinion 

 in males ; tail medium. 



Plumage and Colouration. — White ; no sexual dif- 

 ference. The face is more or less naked and 

 covered with warts. 



Young. — Downy and active ; plain grey in colour. 

 First plumage white as in adults. 



Nest. — Rough, placed in a hole or hollow on the 

 ground. 



Eggs. — Two or three, white, with many red markings. 



Courtship. — Somewhat as in pigeons. 



Food. — Shore animals, eggs, seaweed, carrion. 



Gait. — A walk or run ; they can swim on occasion. 



Flight. — Said to be like that of a pigeon ; they may 

 sometimes be found far out at sea. 



Note. — A chuckle. 



Habits. — Tame and inquisitive with man ; pugnacious 

 and destructive to other birds. 



