The birds composing this family are characterised by a long and flexible bill, which is fitted for little else except boring in mud and soft ground. They are indifferently shore or marsh birds. Among them are comprised the Sandpipers, Turnstones, Ruffs, Knots, Godwits, Woodcocks, Snipes, Curlews, and Ibis. The SANDPIPERS have a long, straight, thin bill, flexible at the base, but firmer towards the point; the tarsi are slender and elongated; the wings very pointed; the feet half webbed, the back toe short, and touching the ground with the point only. They live in small flocks on the banks of rivers and on the sea-coast. Some species frequent marshy localities, others dry and sandy districts. Their food is chiefly worms, insects, fish-spawn, and sometimes even small fry and crustacea. Their habits are peaceable, and their movements easy and graceful. They may be noticed on the strands and banks of our rivers, incessantly on the move, running, swimming, and diving, all of which they perform with equal ease. They are gifted with a keen sight, for not even the smallest insect in its vicinity can escape its vision. The moment one of them descries a prey, the whole flock vie with each other to obtain possession of it. The Sandpipers are natives of the northern parts of the Old and New World; they visit France twice a year--in spring and autumn. They breed in the North, and lay from three to five eggs. The extreme delicacy of their flesh causes them to be much sought after by epicures; they are, therefore, captured in every possible way. Extinction will probably be the result. To gratify the tastes of the gourmand and the bloodthirsty instincts of the poacher, the lovers of nature are, forsooth, to be deprived of one of the most innocent and beautiful families of birds. [Illustration: Fig. 125.--Redshank (_Totanus stagnatui_, Temm.).] In France seven species of Sandpipers are known, varying in size from that of the Sparrow to that of the Thrush. They are as follows:--the Brown Sandpiper, called also the Harlequin Sandpiper (_Totanus fuscus_), the Greenshank (_Totanus glottis_), the Redshank (_Totanus caledris_), Fig. 125; the Pond Sandpiper; the Wood Sandpiper (_Totanus glareola_), the Green Sandpiper (_Totanus achropus_), the Common Sandpiper (_Totanus hypoleucos_). The last kind is the smallest, and also the most prized. [Illustration: Fig. 126.--Turnstone (_Cinclus interpres_, G. R. Gray).]