68 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
and weak, and almoft like fkin at the point : it is 
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, onthe 
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 tofwim. It is a very lively 
bird, and quick in all its motions. It ftays but a _ 
little while in a place, and often goes away the — 
day after it comes. ‘The Avocet, for that reafon, 
is not very eafily taken. 
The lower part of the back of the Vecbet 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 — fupport theirs 
on their breafts. 
_ The Avocet avoids all {nares, and is very dif. : 
ficult to taken alive. 
Genus 
