344 
Synopsis of the Birds 
60 . RECURVIROSTRA. 
Recurvirostra, L. Gm. Lath. 111. Cuv. Temm. Vieill. Ranz* 
Avocetta , Briss. Scopoli. 
Bill very long, weak, slender, smooth, much depressed 
throughout, flexible and recurved from the middle, subulate, 
acuminate, and almost membranaceous at the point, slightly 
curved at tip ; margins internally canaliculated ; mandibles 
subequal, furrowed each side at base : nostrils in the furrow, 
basal, linear, elongated, open : tongue short, entire. Head 
small : eyes moderate : neck slender, not much elongated : 
body slender. Tarsus one third longer than the middle toe, 
slender, compressed ; anterior toes moderate, slender ; webs 
deeply indented ; hind toe exceedingly short, articulated high 
upon the tarsus, entirely raised from the ground : nails short, 
but little curved, not very acute. Wings long, acute : 
quills twenty-six ; first primary longest. Tail of twelve 
feathers. 
Female similar to the male, smaller. Young differing but 
little from the adult. Moult but once a year, in the autumn ; 
acquiring, however, in spring, many additional feathers. 
Plumage rather thick and close, abuvidantly furnished with 
down. Colors white and black, often with reddish tints. 
Remarkably shy. Helpless : justly timorous. Noisy. 
Live by pairs or small parties in inundated marshes, almost 
always half leg deep in water. Run rapidly in or out of the 
water, and swim with agility. Feed on small insects and 
spawn, which they catch by beating the water, their bill per- 
mitting them only to seek in liquid mud or water. Breed in 
small cavities lined with a few weeds, or on the bare sand : 
eggs 2 — 4, pyriform : both sexes incubate, folding their long- 
legs to the body. Young run about and provide for them- 
selves as soon as hatched, hiding carefully, and attentively 
protected by the parents. Flight rapid, long sustained. 
