228 GRALL^E. 



of its form and manners ; and of late there is added to it the 

 additional interest of comparative rarity as a British species. 

 Till within a comparatively recent date, to find a dozen of 

 avocets in Leadenhall Market in one week, or even all at once, 

 in the season of the fen birds, was no uncommon occurrence ; 

 but now there are only one or two in the course of the year. 



As is the case with the other fen birds, the avocet breeds 

 in the herbage on the borders of the fen ; but its feeding 

 grounds, and also its mode of feeding, are peculiar. The 

 little runs, or water-courses, which cross the loose sand or 

 sludge, and which always contain a considerable quantity of 

 spawn, larvae, or other animal matters, according to the time 

 of the year, are the places which it frequents. It can swim, 

 as indeed all birds that have close plumage on the under 

 part can do, less or more ; but it perhaps does not swim 

 voluntarily in any instance, and it never swims when it is 

 feeding. It is not adapted for that, as the action of hoth 

 the body and the bill require a fulcrum of something more 

 stable than water. Swimming in still water, the bird could 

 not scoop, as the stroke of the bill would merely drive the 

 body backwards; and as it feeds against the stream, its 

 moving would be like that of a man attempting to force a 

 boat against the stream by placing his pole upwards, and by 

 that means adding his own exertion to the downward force 

 the current. 



The avocet wades up the shallow stream ; and, only that 

 its strokes are equally effective right and left, its action is 

 not unlike that of a mower. Its legs are long, and placed 

 far asunder, and it proceeds by long and slow strides. Sup- 

 pose thejfoot on one side advanced and planted, and the one 

 on the other side in the rear to the full extent of its stride : 

 the axis of its body will, in that position, be obliquely across 

 the run, with the head towards the side of the rear foot, and 

 the tail to that of the advanced one, both feet being nearly 



