19G BRITISH HIHDS. [vol. xiv. 



beautiful attitudes are assumed. In fact the Avocet is 

 almost as self-conscious as the Ruff, and these social gatherings 

 seemed mere occasions for a display akin to that of the Ruff. 

 They begin peacefully, but often end in squabbles ; some- 

 times only two birds disagree, but occasionally there is a free 

 fight. In a dull diffused light these gatherings of Avocets 

 are specially beautiful. The tall birds with their long shadows 

 reflected in the water make a wonderful picture. There is 

 a quaint solemnity about their attitudes and general pro- 

 ceedings to start with, but when they get convivial the 

 spell is broken ; the shadows become distorted owing to rapid 

 changes of position and the silver mirror is soon dulled with 

 the scurrying of many feet. 



On the whole, a colony of Avocets is fairly quiet when 

 undisturbed, though the air is full of subdued sound. They 

 pay no attention to the men who are working on the land 

 adjoining their nesting area, but the appearance of a stranger 

 is the signal for a great uproar. The colony rises in a mass, 

 together with the Terns, and a loud clamour ensues ; if, 

 however, you efface yourself, the angry tumult ceases, the 

 birds soon settle down, and nothing is heard but the soft 

 murmuring of many voices. 



The Avocet 's call-note is a flute-like " Kluit, kluit," 

 capable of varying modulations, and increasing in volume 

 as danger threatens. The Dutch name for the Avocet is 

 " Kluit," so named from this, its ordinary call-note. When 

 fifty or sixty birds are all shouting together the note sounds 

 strident, but when whispered to the young, it is the softest 

 possible music ; you can hear the old birds crooning to the 

 newly-hatched nestlings, as they cover them in sheltered 

 nooks. Another note, which seems to be a warning call 

 to the young, is a reedy " Koek, koek." The Avocet also 

 makes a curious moaning sound akin to that of the Eider 

 drake. This note evidently expresses happiness and content- 

 ment. The memory of it recalls visions of stately Avocets 

 standing at ease in sunlit pools, while the young ones play 

 around. 



When feeding, the Avocet prefers water that is only four 

 or five inches deep. There is something about their long 

 swinging stride and rapid rhythmic movements that reminds 

 one of men mowing. The body is bent downwards, the bill 

 sweeps the water from side to side, keeping time with each 

 stride ; in this manner they scoop up minute Crustacea, aquatic 

 insects and their larvae, besides a certain amount of alga. 



My first introduction to an Avocet colony was on May 17th, 



