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Avocet frequents the shallow parts of lakes, inlets of the sea, and the muddy banks of rivers, 

 often wading knee-deep in the water, and readily swimming when necessity requires it so to do. 

 Its food consists of minute marine mollusca and insects, which it gathers from the surface of the 

 mud with its delicately organized bill, the structure of which is admirably adapted for the pur- 

 pose : not less appropriate is the structure of its feet, which, being partially webbed, enable the 

 bird to pass over the soft surface of the ground with far greater ease than could be effected by 

 any of the Sandpipers, whose toes are divided to their base. In Western Australia the favourite 

 localities of this bird are the lakes in the neighbourhood of Perth and on Rotnest Island, where 

 it is seen in small flocks in company with the Himantopus leticocephalus. In South Australia the 

 river Murray and the shores of Lake Alexandrina afford situations equally adapted for its exist- 

 ence. The sexes are alike in plumage, and differ but little in size." 



