402 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



eggs are laid crosswise. In winter the peewits collect together 

 in flocks and sometimes By great distances in lines. Migration 

 in this country is chiefly after food. The eggs are much sought 

 after for the table in spite of the Wild Birds Protection Act, 

 and yet this is one of our most useful birds. Their food consists 

 of wireworms and all manner of larvEe and insects, also worms. 

 The large flocks — for they are gregarious even in the breeding 

 season — must tend largely to the destruction of many noxious 

 farm pests. 



The Scoliipan'ihr include the Woodcock and various Snipe, the 



Fio. 222.— Sroi.OPACID.E. 

 ft, Leg and foot of Curlew ; b, Hind of Snipe ; i , Beak of Avocet. (Nicholson.) 



Ruff, Sandpipers, and Curlews, t^-c. They are all provided with 

 long bills, which may be straight or cur\-ed ; the three forward 

 toes may be partially webbed as in the Avocet {lieciin-iiw/ra 

 avoee/fa), or lobed as in the Phalaropes (Phalarupun), or united 

 at their base by webbing as in the Curlew (Xunieniiis arquata), 

 but many are free. The legs are usually long and slender and 

 adapted to wailing (fig. 222). The basal webbing of the foot 

 is not shown in the ii.nure. 



