Page:Birdlifeguide00chap.djvu/69

 FORM AND HABIT: THE BILL. 33 ble, which better enables them to grasp objects while probing. In the Avocet the bill is curved upward, and the bird swings it from side to side, scraping the bottom in its search for food. The New _^— Zealand AVrvbill has its bill turned to the right for the ter- minal third, and the bird uses it as a crooked probe to push under stones in hunting for its prej. The Siberian Spoonbill Sandpiper has a most singular bill, which is much enlarged at the end, suggesting a flat-ended forceps. The Eoseate Spoonbill, an entirely different bird, has a somewhat similarly shaped bill, a striking instance of the occurrence of the same form in families which are not closely related. But probably the most remarkable instance of relation 21.— Bill of Spoonbill Sand- piper. (J^atural size.) Fig. 22. — Curved bill of female, straight bill of male Iluia-bird. ( y, natural size.) between the form of the bill and feeding habits is fur- nished by the Huia-bird of ]^ew Zealand. The male of this species has a comparatively short, straight bill, while Y