. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. 38 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD bird feeds, it walks along in shallow water with the curved tip of the beak resting on the surface and the head moving swiftly from side to side, the jaws meanwhile being opened and closed with exceeding rapidit}-, and seizing instantly upon such small crustacea and other organisms as come in their way. Although all the Plovers might be described as long-legged birds, the Stilts are quite exceptionally so, and afford evidence of modifica- tion in anot
. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. 38 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD bird feeds, it walks along in shallow water with the curved tip of the beak resting on the surface and the head moving swiftly from side to side, the jaws meanwhile being opened and closed with exceeding rapidit}-, and seizing instantly upon such small crustacea and other organisms as come in their way. Although all the Plovers might be described as long-legged birds, the Stilts are quite exceptionally so, and afford evidence of modifica- tion in another direction. Relatively to the size of the bod}', the stilts have the longest legs of all living birds. They seek their prey by \\'ading in shallow water, like the Avocets, to which they are closely related. One species â the Black- wingedStiltâoccasionally appears in Britain. Some other members of the Plover Tribe â the Jacana of Brazil, and the Water-PHEASANT of India, Ceylon, and China, for example â have enormously long toes, as well as claws of great length. These birds are furthermore remarkable for the possession of for- midable weapons of offence, borne on the wrist-joint of the wing, in the shape of long, sharp, and powerful spurs. Similar weapons are carried by certain plovers â the Egyptian Spur-winged Plover, for Ph,i, by k: p. DjnJo] [Rtgirit'i Park STANLEY CRANE This is a South j^frican species T CHAPTER V BUSTARDS JXD CRJNES HE Plover Tribe, Bustards, Cranes, and Rails form a large group of diverse but probably closely related forms. Of the Bustards, the most interesting and important species is the Gre\T Bust-VRD About a hundred years ago this magnificent bird might have been seen any dav in such favoured localities as the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire wolds, the Norfolk and Suft-olk'" brecks " the heaths of Newmarket, or the downs of Berkshire and Wiltshire. It owes its extermination to several causes, foremost among which must be recko
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecad, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectzoology
