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68 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
and weak, and almoft like {kin at the point : jt jg 
comprefled horizontally, or flattened. It frequents 
the fea-fhore, and feeksin the foam of the waves the 
{pawn of fifh, which feems to be its principal food; 
perhaps, indeed, it may feed upon worms: it 
feems to prefer thofe fituations where rivers run. 
. into the fea, ‘The plumage on the fore-part is of 
a beautiful white, on the back, or, rather, on the 
wings, it is intermixed with black; the tail is 
white, the beak black; and the legs are blue, 
The Avocet from the length of its legs, runs 
along the ground when it is covered five or fix 
inches deep with water: but where the water is 
deeper it is obliged to fwim. It is a very lively 
bird, and quick in all its motions. It ftays buta 
little while in a place, and often goes away the 
day after itcomes. The Avocet, for that reafon, 
is not very eafily taken. 
The lower part of the back of the Avocet is 
often a little clotted with dirt, and the feathers 
near the tail feem a little worn, as though they 
were rubbed: it is very probable that it may 
wipe the beak on its feathers, and reft it upon the 
back, when it fleeps, as Pigeons fupport theirs 
on their breatts. 
. The Avocet avoids all f{nares, and is very dif 
ficult to be taken alive. 
Genus 

