90 GRALLATORES. RECURVIROSTRA. AVOCET. 



has given an interesting and detailed description of the form 

 and habits of an American species) was considered so closely 

 approaching to Recurvirostra, as to induce him to place it 

 in that genus, rather than in the family of the Charadriadce, 

 to which, as an aberrant form, it more properly belongs. 



This genus, as far as it is at present known, contains four 

 species, only one of which is European. They are the in- 

 habitants of the muddy shores of the ocean, and more par- 

 ticularly of the estuaries of rivers, where they obtain a plen- 

 tiful supply of food in the sediment brought down from the 

 interior, and upon which soft substance they are supported 

 by their palmated feet. Their food consists of minute aqua- 

 tic insects, the lesser univalve and bivalve mollusca, and the 

 spawn of fishes. They form their nests upon the ground in 

 sea-marshes. When feeding, they frequently wade deep in 

 the pools, or on the edges of rivers, but never swim volun- 

 tarily ; and, from observations which have been made, they 

 appear unable to use their legs and feet for this purpose with 

 much effect. Their flight is strong and rapid. Their moult 

 appears to be simple ; and the sexes exhibit no difference in 

 plumage. 



SCOOPING AVOCET. 



RECURVIROSTRA AVOCETTA, Linn. 

 PLATE XX. 



Recurvirostra Avocetta, Linn. Syst. 1. 256. 1 Gmel Syst. 1. 693 Lath. 



Ind. Orn. 2. 786. 1 Rail Syn. 117. A. 1 Will. 240. t. 60 Id (Angl.) 



321 Flem. Br. Anim. 1. 101. sp. 135. Shaw's Zool. 12. 170. pi. 22. 



L'Avocette, Buff. Ois. 8. 466. t. 38. 



Avocette a Nuque noire, Temm. Man. d'Ornith. 2. 590. 



Der blauf iissige Wasser Sabler, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 4. 450. t. 25. f. 2. 



Scooping Avocet, Penn. Br. Zool. 2. 504. No. 228 Arct. Zool. 2. 503. 



Albin. Br. Birds, 1. pi. 101 Lath. Syn. 5. 293. 1 Id. Sup. 263 Mont. 



Ornith. Diet. 



Avocet, Lewirfs Br. Birds, 6. 202 Bewick's Br. Birds, 2. 158. 

 Common Avocet, Shaw's Zool. 12. 173. pi. 22. 



PROVINCIAL Butterflip, Scooper, Yelper, Picarini, Cobler'-awl, 

 Crooked-bill. 



