250 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



frequents the shallow parts of lakes, inlets of the sea, and the 

 muddy banks of rivers, often wading knee-deep in the water, 

 and readily swimming when necessity requires it so to do. 



Its food consists of minute marine mollusca and insects, 

 which it gathers from the surface of the mud with its deli- 

 cately organized bill, the structure of which is admirably 

 adapted for the purpose : not less appropriate is the structure 

 of its feet, which, being partially webbed, enable the bird to 

 pass over the soft surface of the ground with far greater ease 

 than could be effected by any of the Sandpipers, whose toes 

 are divided to their base. In Western Australia the favourite 

 localities of this bird are the lakes in the neighbourhood of 

 Perth and on Rottnest Island, where it is seen in small flocks 

 in company with the Himantopus leucocephalus. In South Aus- 

 tralia, the River Murray, and the shores of Lake Alexandrina 

 afford situations equally adapted for its existence. 



The sexes are alike in plumage, and differ but little in size. 



Head and upper half of the neck chestnut, extending down- 

 wards on the front of the neck ; middle of the wings, prima- 

 ries and part of the scapularies black, the rest of the plumage 

 white ; irides bright red ; bill black ; legs greyish blue ; tarsi 

 and feet tinged with olive. 



The habits and economy of the four or five species known 

 of this family are very similar. In England the European 

 bird is called Yelper, from the peculiar noise it makes when 

 flying, while the extraordinary form of its upturned bill 

 has obtained for it the trivial names of Shoe-horn, Cobbler's 

 Awl, Scooper, &c. This elastic whalebone-like organ is 

 doubtless formed for the procuration of some peculiar food 

 which has not yet been fully ascertained. The bird is said, 

 however, to live on sea-worms, aquatic insects, and small 

 crustaceans. Its eggs, which are generally two in number, 

 are laid on the bare sand or among the shingle ; and doubt- 

 less the breeding of the Australian bird is very similar. 



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