THE SCOOPING AVOCET. 223 



about a foot and a half; but when the legs, which are very 

 long, and bare to a considerable height above the articula- 

 tions of the tarsi, are stretched out, they reach at least four 

 inches further. The wings, which when closed extend rather 

 beyond the tail, measure two feet and a half in the stretch. 

 The legs are stout as well as long, the hind toe nearly rudi- 

 mental, the three front ones all webbed for more than half 

 their length, the webs extending in straight lines to the 

 roots of the claws. The bill three inches and a half in length, 

 bent upwards with a curvature gradually increasing to the 

 point, so that, when it is brought in contact with the ground, 

 a portion towards the tip is horizontal, and the tip rather 

 inclines upwards. 



With the exception of the irides, which are hazel, and the 

 feet and naked parts of the legs, which are blue, all the rest 

 is black or white. The latter is the prevailing colour, and it 

 is beautifully clear and pure, the plumage being very smooth 

 and compact, resembling that of swimming birds. The bill 

 and head as far as under the eyes, and the nape, are black; 

 but relieved with a white line or white spots, more or less 

 conspicuous, over the eye, and sometimes with a little white 

 on the forehead. The bastard wing, the turn of the wing, 

 part of the scapulars, the middle coverts, and the quills, are 

 generally black, and all the rest of the body white ; but the 

 quantity and also the distribution of the black varies in 

 different specimens. The bird cannot, however, be mistaken. 

 The bill is alone sufficient to distinguish it ; and it is alto- 

 gether so different from any other British bird, that if once 

 seen it never again can be mistaken. 



The avocet is one of the most beautiful instances of adap- 

 tation in the whole range of animated nature ; and it is not 

 the less so that it is somewhat out of the way of our ordinary 

 speculations and conclusions upon that subject. According 

 to ordinary observation, and familiarity with the tools which, 



