AYOCET. 
175 
during which exercise it nods with its head at every stroke; 
but it seems to like to float rather than to swim.’ 
‘The flight of the present species is very different from 
that of most others of its family, owing in part to its 
bending 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 the body, with the beak bent somewhat 
downwards, and the legs projected out very far behind. On 
alighting, it opens its wings, for a moment, high above the 
back, and then closes them very carefully.’ 
When the female is frightened off the nest, she flies round 
and round with drooped legs and extended neck, counterfeiting 
every sign of disablement, and crying out with alarm, or the 
desire to distract attention. They are quick and active in 
their movements. Avocets are sociable birds among themselves, 
but shy in their general character. They travel usually in 
small numbers, but sometimes unite in large flocks. They 
build in companies. Montagu writes, ‘The singular form of 
the bill led Buffon, according to his absurd atheistical 
tendency, to suppose it to be ‘one of those errors or essays 
of nature, which, if carried a little further, would destroy 
itself; for if the curvature of the bill were a degree increased, 
the bird could not procure any sort of food, and the organ 
destined for the support of life, would infallibly occasion its 
destruction.’ The bill of the Avocet may therefore be 
regarded as the extreme model which nature could trace, or 
at least preserve. The modern doctrine of ‘types’ seems to 
be a legitimate descendant of this nonsense.’ 
They feed on aquatic insects, embryo Crustacea, shrimps, 
and worms, and in search of these wade deep or not as the 
case requires, but usually keep near the edge. The manner 
in which they obtain their prey appears to be by scooping 
with the concave part of the bill, from side to side in a 
zigzag manner in the sand, and also in the water. A good 
deal of gravel is swallowed with the food. 
The note or pipe is likened to the syllables ‘kwee, kwee,’ 
or ‘twit, twit.’ 
The nest is said to be made in a hollow on some dry spot 
