282 



TiiE REASON WIIT : 



&quot; The machine, which we arc inspecting, demonstrates by its 

 construction, contrivance, and design. Contrivance must have 

 had a contriver, design a designer ; whether the machine imme 

 diately proceeded from another machine or not.&quot; PALEY. 



904. In searching for its food among various accumulated matters, the avocet 



moves along with slow hut rather 

 lengthy steps, and scoops ooze or 

 mud in curves, right and left, as it 

 proceeds. In performing this opera 

 tion, it does not use the bill only, 

 but the whole body. It alights in 

 the middle with its head in the 

 stream, and the one foot a little in 

 advance of the other. It then 

 stretches and depresses the neck, 

 and gives it a twist, so that the 

 extremity of the bill, \\hich is on a 

 level with the ooze, is turned to 

 the other side. The foot farthest in 

 advance is the pivot on which it is 

 to turn, in making the stroke which 

 sweeps one curve. Then it slowly 

 advances the rearmost foot, which elevates the hinder part of the body, depresses 

 the fore part, and throws the support on the advanced foot, while, supported by 

 that, and moved by the lever power of the other as it is brought forward, the axis 

 the body is caused to cross the stream obliquely in an opposite direction : by this 

 motion the bill makes another scoop. The head and bill are then elevated for the 

 purpose of conveying to the gullet the food which the bill has thus collected. 



905. Why has the spoon-bill long, flattened mandibles ? 



Because these birds inhabit 

 the borders of rivers and 

 sea-coasts, where they feed 

 upon small fish, shrimps, 

 frogs, quails, and aquatic 

 insects; and the form of the 

 bill is admirably adapted 

 for seizing such descriptions 

 of prey. Their beaks consist 

 of long, flat, and broad mandi 

 bles, widening and flattening 

 at the end, so as to tomi a 

 roundish spatula. 



