Order  VII.  GRALLiE. 
Family  III.  Scolopacidje. 
The  third  Subfamily, 
RECUR VIROSTRINiE,  or  Avocets, 
have  the  Bill  lengthened  and  slender,  with  the  sides  grooved  to  the  middle,  and  compressed  towards  the 
tip,  which  is  acute  ;  the  Nostrils  linear  and  membranous  :  the  Wings  long  and  pointed :  the  Tail  rather 
short  and  rounded  :  the  Tarsi  long,  slender,  and  covered  in  front  with  reticulated  scales  :  the  Tibia  long, 
and  denuded  of  feathers  for  some  distance  above  the  knee :  the  Toes  moderate,  sometimes  free  and 
sometimes  entirely  united  by  a  web  to  the  ends  of  the  toes  ;  the  hind  toe  extremely  short,  or  wanting  :  the 
Claws  short. 
Recurvirostra  Linn.'* 
Bill  very  long  and  slender,  with  the  culmen  slightly  depressed  at  the  base,  the  sides  grooved  to  the 
middle,  and  compressed  to  the  tip,  which  is  gradually  pointed  ;  the  nostrils  lateral,  and  placed  in  the 
groove,  with  the  opening  linear  and  membranous.  Wings  long  and  pointed,  with  the  first  quill  the 
longest.  Tail  short  and  rounded.  Tarsi  much  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  rather  compressed,  and 
covered  in  front  with  reticulated  scales.  Toes  united  together  by  an  indented  web ;  the  outer  toe  rather 
longer  than  the  inner  ;  the  hind  toe  extremely  short ;  the  Claws  short,  compressed,  and  acute. 
The  species  of  this  genus  are  found  in  most  parts  of  the  globe.  They  frequent  the  swampy  places  on  the  borders  of 
rivers,  or  in  salt  marshes,  where  they  are  most  usually  observed  in  pools  of  shallow  water,  fluttering  their  wings,  and 
shaking  their  half-bent  legs,  which  gives  them  an  appearance  as  if  they  would  tumble  over ;  at  the  same  time  they  are 
continually  uttering  a  sharp  note  of  click  often  repeated.  Sometimes  these  birds  are  noticed  in  small  parties  on  the 
open  downs  that  are  thinly  covered  with  grasses  and  other  kinds  of  vegetation,  moving  very  quickly  over  the  ground, 
and  if  alarmed  they  frequently  fly  off  in  a  straight  line,  just  above  the  surface  of  the  ground.  They  rarely,  if  ever,  swim, 
except  when  alarmed,  or  when  they  have  accidentally  proceeded  out  of  their  depth  while  examining  the  shallow  water. 
The  nest  is  generally  formed  of  dry  grasses,  sea-weeds,  and  small  twigs,  to  the  thickness  of  several  inches ;  and  is  placed 
among  thick  tufts  of  grass,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  pools  of  shallow  water.    The  eggs  are  usually  four  in  number. 
1.  R.  nvocetta  Linn.  PI.  enl.  353.  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  289.  R-  americana  Gmel.  Lath.  Syn.  v.  pi.  92.,  Wils.  Amer.  Orn. 
2.  R.  orientalis  Cuv.  Reg.  Anim.  p.  496. —  Recurvirostra  leucoce-  .  pi.  6'3.  f.  2.,  Leach,  Zool.  Misc.  pi.  101.,  Auilub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi. 
phala  Vieill.  Encyc.  Meth.  p.  360.  t.  236.  f.  4.,  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  272.  '  318. 
3.  R.  rubricollis  Temm.  Man.  d'Omith.  ii.  p.  592.  —  Recurvirostra  |  5.  R.  occidentulis  Vigors,  Zool.  Journ.  iv.  p.  357-,  Zool.  Beechey's 
nova?  hollandia?  Vieill.,  Gould,  B.  of  Austr.  pi.  Voy.  pi.  12. 
*  Linnseus  established  this  genus  in  1744.     Trochilus  of  Mcehring  (1752)  and  Avocetta  of  Brisson  (1760)  are  synonymous. 
