FORM AND HABIT: THE BILL. 



33 



ble, which better enaljles them to grasp ol)jects while 

 probing. In the Avocet the bill is curved upward, and the 

 bird swings it from side to side, scraping the bottom in 

 its search for food. The New 

 Zealand Wrjbill has its bill 

 turned to the right for the ter- 

 minal third, and the bird uses 

 it as a crooked probe to push 

 under stones in hunting for its 

 prey. The Siberian Spoonliill 

 Sandpiper has a most singular 

 bill, which is much enlarged at the end, suggesting a 

 flat-ended forceps. The Roseate Spoonbill, an entirely 

 different bird, has a somewhat similarly shaped bill, a 

 striking instance of tlie occurrence of the same form in 

 families which are not closely related. 



But probably the most remarka1)le instance of relation 



,,*<', A 



:l.— Bill of Spoonliill Sand- 

 piper. (!Nutufal size. ) 



Fio. 23.— Curved bill of female, straight liiU of male Iluia-bird. c/.^ natural 



size. J 



between the form of the bill and feeding habits is fur- 

 nished by the Huia-bird of ISTew Zealand. The male of 

 this species has a comparatively short, straight l)ill, while 



i 



