"IN DEFENSE. 



THE MOTHER AVOCET WILL DO HER UTMOST" 



I noted an entirely different method of procedure. It was on the lagoon at 

 Sandyland, near Santa Barbara, where the shallow tide pools contained a 

 multitude of tiny fish fry. These an Avocet endeavored to secure by a rapid 

 sweeping motion of the bill. The bill was partly immersed with the man- 

 dibles apart, and the swinging motion had a rapidity and regularity about 

 it that seemed almost aimless; but the bird paused now and then — as often, 

 apparently, as it felt a promising contact — and made a quick grab, with 

 only occasional success. In advancing, at forage, the leg is withdrawn 

 quickly along the line of the tarsus, with folded or collapsed foot, and 

 thrust forward again in such fashion as least to disturb the ooze at the 

 bottom. 



As is not, perhaps, so generally known, the Avocet is also a ready 

 diver, or, more accurately, dabbler, since it feeds from the surface of the 

 water with the tipping motion characteristic of some of the ducks. In 

 this operation, the legs are not at all exposed, but only the tail and the 

 rump, the legs being evidently required under water to maintain the 

 vertical position. In dabbling, the birds must depend altogether upon the 

 sensitiveness of the bill, for the water becomes too much disturbed for 

 vision. The confidence in strangers sometimes exhibited by these birds 

 in carrying on their diving operations is very flattering; and one only 

 wishes that it had been uniformly deserved during the years which have 

 so sadly reduced their numbers. 



Avocets are rather noisy when disturbed or threatened, but are not 



II98 



