194 BRITISH BIRDS' EGGS. 



and is reported to have bred in the marshy districts of our 

 land. It occurs in various parts of the European continent, 

 but is not generally abundant, except in the north of Hol- 

 land, where it has been said to be common. It has also 

 been found on the continents of Asia and Africa. The 

 Avoset frequents the banks of rivers and estuaries, and 

 feeds on aquatic life in various forms. We have already 

 adverted to the form of the bill as being peculiar; and with 

 this slender, recurved, elastic organ, it obtains from the 

 slimy ooze the minute insects or worms on which it feeds. 

 The mode in which it obtains its prey appears to be by 

 scooping with the concave part of the bill from side to side 

 in a zigzag manner in the sand, and also in the water. This 

 species is said to lay two, and but rarely three eggs, in a 

 slight depression of the ground, with perhaps a small quan- 

 tity of dry grass for a nest. The eggs, which are larger 

 than those of the Pewit, and not so tapering at the smaller 

 end, are of a yellower colour, blotched with grey and dif- 

 ferent shades of brown. " When disturbed during incu- 

 bation, or while guarding their down-covered young, they 

 fly round the intruder in circles, uttering without inter- 

 mission their ^peculiar cry, twit-twit, twit-twit, and, like 

 the Stilt-Plover, will feign lameness, and crouch on trem- 



