344 Synopsis of the Birds 



60. RECURVlROSTItA. 



Recurvirostra, L. Gin. Lath. 111. Cuv. Temm. Vieill. Ranz, 

 Avocetta, Briss. Scopoli. 



Bill very long, weak, slender, smooth, much depressed 

 throughout, flexible and recurved from the middle, subulate, 

 acuminate, and almost membranaceous at the point, slightly 

 curved at tip ; margins internally canaliculated ; mandibles 

 subequal, furrowed each side at base : nostrils in the furrow, 

 basal, linear, elongated, open : tongue short, entire. Head 

 small : e3'es moderate : neck slender, not much elongated : 

 body slender. Tarsus one third longer than the middle toe, 

 slender, compressed ; anterior toes moderate, slender ; webs 

 deeply indented ; hind toe exceedingly short, articulated high 

 upon the tarsus, entirely raised from the ground : nails short, 

 but little curved, not very acute. Wings long, acute : 

 quills twenty-six ; first primary longest. Tail of twelve 

 feathers. 



Female similar to the male, smaller. Young differing but 

 little from the adult. Moult but once a year, in the autumn ; 

 acquiring, however, in spring, many additional feathers. 

 Plumage rather thick and close, abundantly furnished with 

 down. Colors white and black, often with reddish tints. 



Remarkably shy. Helpless : justly timorous. Noisy. 

 Live by pairs or small parties in inundated marshes, almost 

 always half leg deep in water. Run rapidly in or out of the 

 water, and swim with agility. Feed on small insects and 

 spawn, which they catch by beating the water, their bill per- 

 mitting them only to seek in liquid mud or water. Breed in 

 small cavities lined with a few weeds, or on the bare sand : 

 eggs 2 — 4, pyriform : both sexes incubate, folding their long 

 legs to the body. Young run about and provide for them- 

 selves as soon as hatched, hiding carefully, and attentively 

 protected by the parents. Flight rapid, long sustained. 



