AVOCET. 19 



The flight of the present species is very different from 

 that of most others of its family, owing in part to its bend- 

 ing its wings into perfect arches during their movements : 

 the wings are either beaten in quick succession, or more 

 moderately, according to the pleasure of the bird. During 

 the breeding season they fly great distances low over the 

 surface of the water, but pursue their migratory journey at 

 a great elevation. The form of the Avocet when on the 

 wing is particularly strange, in consequence of the head being 

 drawn close to its body with the beak bent somewhat down- 

 wards, and the legs projected out very far behind. On alight- 

 ing, it opens its wings for a moment high above its back, and 

 then closes them very carefully. 



By nature the Avocet is shy and watchful, but sociable to- 

 wards its own species. They travel generally in small flocks, 

 but sometimes unite in great companies ; they also remain 

 together in companies in and about their breeding-places. 



The call-note can be best expressed by the word kwee, 

 kwee, uttered in a piping tone, but not very loud. 



The food of the Avocet is marine insects and the soft 

 spawn of the Crustacea ; but it would be very difficult to 

 enumerate any in particular, since the bird has the propensity 

 of emptying its stomach as soon as it is wounded, and the 

 digestion going on so fast among this tribe of birds, it is 

 impossible to form any conjecture with certainty. 



The very extraordinary shape of the beak, and its soft 

 whalebone-like consistency, seem to be adapted for selecting 

 some particular food with which we are not yet acquainted : 

 the use they make of their beaks in beating the mud is pos- 

 sibly the only meaning of its being turned up towards the tip. 

 The manner in which the Avocet takes its food from the 

 surface is by scooping right and left, with a precision and 

 swiftness that cannot be eluded by the insects which rise up 

 in all directions in its path. When the Avocet is swimming 



