. Bird lore . lover are to be found there during the summer, the first -named nesting in the trees or cliffs along the river-banks, the others makingtheir nests on the shingle. *The round, water-worn stones, with most of the sand washed out, which formthe larger portion of the river-beds. t Phalacrocorax carbo is with us largely an inland bird, frequenting fresh-water lakesand rivers. 186 Bird-Lore Among the Plover, one of the rarest and most interesting is the Wry-bill {Anaryncbus frontalis), which possesses the distinction of being the only-bird in the world that has its bill bent laterally.
. Bird lore . lover are to be found there during the summer, the first -named nesting in the trees or cliffs along the river-banks, the others makingtheir nests on the shingle. *The round, water-worn stones, with most of the sand washed out, which formthe larger portion of the river-beds. t Phalacrocorax carbo is with us largely an inland bird, frequenting fresh-water lakesand rivers. 186 Bird-Lore Among the Plover, one of the rarest and most interesting is the Wry-bill {Anaryncbus frontalis), which possesses the distinction of being the only-bird in the world that has its bill bent laterally. It is of about the same size as,or slightly larger than, the Spotted Sandpiper of North America. The upperparts of its plumage are of a slaty gray color, while the under parts are white,with a black band across the breast. This coloration harmonizes perfectlywith the shingle and sand of the river-beds where the bird breeds, and it isapparently well aware of this, for I have never yet seen it on those parts of. THE RAKAIA RIVER BELOW THE GORGE Mt. Hutt, in the center, has an elevation of 7, feet. Note the Shingle beds in the river the river-bed which are covered with a moss-like vegetation. Standing stillamong the stones, the Wry-bill will watch you walk by. He does not squatdown, nor evince fear, knowing that his color will almost surely protecthim. Even when he knows he is discovered he is not greatly frightened,merely contenting himself with running a few yards and then standing stillto watch you again, his bright, beady eyes never leaving you, while everynow and then he gives a queer little hiccough. He does not readily fly whendisturbed, but runs rapidly away among the stones, resorting to flight onlyif actually pursued. Yet he is swift and strong on the wing, flying low downover the river-bed in long, sweeping curves. About half-way through August, the Wry-bills return from the seacoastof the North Island to their breeding-grounds. For four years I lookedevery season
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