NATURAL HISTORY. 
153 
“ the God of nature has contrived, that 
“ thofe animals, which he has endued with 
“ a lefl’er pidnciple than reafon, fliould pro- 
“ vide themfelvcs with food, and fecure 
“ their exigence, during a life in which 
“ they are liable to' innumerable accidents, 
“ would add a great deal to the meafure of 
“ their furprife, did they comprehend the 
“ variety of thofe means.” 
T'/ze AVOSETTA, or SCOOPER. 
HE avofetta is diftinguiflied from all 
other birds, by the bill, which turns up in- 
llead of down, being about three inches and 
a half in length, compreffed very thin, and 
of a flexible fubftanee, refcmbling whale- 
bone. The tongue is Ihort ; the head, and 
greateft part of the body, is black : the tail 
confifts of twelve white feathers ; the legs 
are very long, of fine blue, and featherlefs 
higher than the knee ; the webs areduflcy,and 
very deeply indented. 
Nature has fo peculiarly formed the bill 
of this bird, to enable it to fcoup out ot the 
fand the worms and infefts, on which it feeds. 
It lays but two eggs, which are about the 
fiLC of thole of the pigeon, of a white co- 
lour, tinged wfth green, and fpotted with 
blacL 
'rhefe 
