BHEEDING-HABITS OF AVOCETS. 



61 



VOL. vin.] 



same time a contented crooning note ; the new arrival 

 then settled himself down, while she moved off a little 

 way, feeding and stretching herself. 



The bird off duty was seldom far away from its nest 

 on these marshes, as there were so many nests of 

 different birds breeding close together that the non-sitter 

 was generally fiercely protecting its mate and eggs. 



ALARMED. " Kluit ! Klnit, I " 

 {PJwtographed by Miss M. G. S. Best.) 



When the Avocets were trying to decoy one away 

 from their nest, they ran in a crouching attitude, rolhng 

 somewhat from side to side, head stretched out and 

 tail spread, wings held on a level with the back, but bent 

 from the metacarpal joint so that the primaries often 

 brushed the ground. 



I saw some of these birds one day when it was blowing 

 a gale of wind. They were nearly blown over, and 



