THE BIRDS 293 



crustaceans, cleverly scooping them up with its peculiar bill. 

 There are three species of Skimmer, the Black Skimmer (Rhynchops 

 nigra) of America being the most familiar. 



The Plovers and a host of wading birds are included in the 

 sub-order Limicolce. They are very long-legged birds, and many 

 have also exceedingly long bills, varying in shape in different 

 species. In the Snipe the bill is straight and tapering ; in the 

 Oyster-catcher, wedge-shaped; in the Avocet the bill curves up- 

 wards ; in the Ibis it is curved down ; the Wrybill, as its name 

 signifies, has a bill twisted to one side ; and the Curlew has an 

 arched bill, somewhat like a scimitar in shape. In some species 

 the bill is hard and horny throughout ; in others, although the tip is 

 hard, the bill becomes fairly flexible towards the base, while certain 

 species have a comparatively soft bill furnished slightly with 

 nerves. The wings in this group of birds are usually long and 

 pointed and have often a bi-lobed appearance, due to the inner 

 secondaries and outer primaries being equal. The tail is short, 

 and the feet may be partially webbed, but the majority of species 

 have the anterior toes free. 



In their habits the wading birds are more or less migratory, 

 and in the winter time often assemble together in flocks ; but 

 there is considerable diversity in the custom of different groups. 

 They have, as a rule, a strong wheeling flight, can walk and run 

 well on land, and most of them are good swimmers, although, 

 except on emergency, they seldom take to the water. On almost 

 every coast some of these waders may be seen paddling about 

 on their long legs in shallow waters on the margins of inland 

 streams arid rivers, at the river mouths, in rock pools and on flat 

 sandy or muddy shores when the tide is low busily feeding 

 on the crustaceans, molluscs, worms, etc., which they obtain by 

 plunging their long bills into the soft sand and mud. 



Most of these birds have a distinct summer and winter dress, 

 the plumage in the nesting season in many cases being very bright, 

 while in the winter more sombre tints are the rule. 



The Plovers, of which there are numerous species found in 

 every quarter of the globe, as a rule frequent low-lying, moist 

 situations marsh lands, moors, and the sea-shore but some nest 

 on grassy commons and others in the breeding season resort to bare 

 mountain tops. The Grey Plover (Squatarola helvetica), the Ringed 



