THE AVOSET. 151 



rostrcs^ Cuvier); but there can be no impropriety in 

 adhering to the arrangement here adopted, as their 

 bills are, without exception, more or less slender 

 and flexible, a character, indeed, more generally 

 applicable than length, as some of them are by no 

 means long-billed. 



There are five genera: 



1. Avosets, 4. Curlews, 



2. Sandpipers, 5. Woodcocks. 



3. Phalaropes, 



Of the first of these birds, the Ayosets, there is 

 little to be said, one species only being known in 

 England, and this confines itself almost entirely to 

 the fen-countries, or southern coasts: its beak is so 

 soft and flexible, that it might be mistaken for two 



Beak of th-3 Avoset. 



thin pieces of whalebone, turned upwards consider- 

 ably for about half its length. It is web-footed, but 

 as it never swims, the use of the web is supposed to 

 be to support it, as it runs lightly over morasses, or 

 soft muddy spots. 



The four last genera of this Table, form nearly 

 the most obscure and difficult division in the whole 

 arrangement of birds, running one into another, 



