. Birds of Britain . d at thetip. The bill is continually growing and so counteractingthe wear and tear to which it is subjected. Length 16 in.;wing 975 in. THE AVOCET Recurvirostra avocetta, Linnaeus If only the amasser of British killed specimens could beexterminated and the protection laws of this country morerigidly enforced, the Avocet might once more become a localbreeding species in some of our counties. At present, however,a few birds arrive in our southern and eastern counties yearly,and it is to be feared that but few live to cross over to theirbreeding grounds in Holland. It used fo
. Birds of Britain . d at thetip. The bill is continually growing and so counteractingthe wear and tear to which it is subjected. Length 16 in.;wing 975 in. THE AVOCET Recurvirostra avocetta, Linnaeus If only the amasser of British killed specimens could beexterminated and the protection laws of this country morerigidly enforced, the Avocet might once more become a localbreeding species in some of our counties. At present, however,a few birds arrive in our southern and eastern counties yearly,and it is to be feared that but few live to cross over to theirbreeding grounds in Holland. It used formerly to breed inconsiderable numbers in the marshes of Kent and Sussex,and along our flat eastern shores, but on the west and inthe north it has never been more than an extremely rareand local visitor. The nest is placed on the mud or sandin an estuary, and at no great distance from the water, andconsists merely of a very small collection of dry bents andgrass. The eggs are three to four in number and pale clay 312. OYSTER-CATCHER Hcematopus ostralegus Summer The Avocet in colour, speckled with black. The note is a clear kluit,generally uttered on the wing, and when disturbed thesebirds are very Their food consists of small insectsand Crustacea, which are captured by a sideways motion ofits curiously shaped bill. It almost always feeds in shallowwater, and when feeding walks along, slowly moving the billfrom side to side on the surface of the mud. It usuallyflies high, and from its coloration and long neck is notunlike a Sheld-Duck when at a distance, but its clear andloud kluit, kluit, soon betrays its identity; The sexes are alike; the head and back of the neck,scapulars, median and tertiary wing coverts and some of theprimaries black. Best of the plumage white. Bill black;legs pale blue. In the young the black portions arebrownish. Length 10 in.; bill 32 in.; wing 85 in. THE BLACK-WINGED STILT Hlmantopus candidus, Bonnaterre This species is only a very scarce strag
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