“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 In advancing, at forage, the leg is withdrawn 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 battering; 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 
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