388 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



According to Capt. Boyd Alexander, in his notes from 

 Eomney Marsb, 1896 : " A solitary pair of these birds 

 may be found breeding annually on the beach not far 

 from Dungeness ; but it is doubtful whether any young 

 are ever reared." 



There is a young bird in the British Museum obtained 

 at New Pvomney, September 20, from Mr. H. Seebohm's 

 collection. 



Family SCOLOPACID^. 



Genus RECURYIROSTRA, Linnajus. 



AYOCET. 



Becurvirostra avocetta, Linn?eus. >S'.A^., i., p. 256 



(1766). 



The Cobbler's Awl. 



In olden times, when Eomney Marsh was a wilderness, 

 and before it was drained, laid down in meadow and 

 pasture land, or even cultivated, and few inhabitants 

 existed there, the Avocet had its home and breeding 

 haunts, but at the present day it is one of the rarest 

 visitors to the county. 



Dr. Latham, in 1785, states that Boys " twice met 

 with them at Sandwich so early as the month of 

 October." In 1787 he again writes : " Boys says the 

 Avocet appears on the coast of Kent about the middle 

 of April, and departs for the most part at the beginning 

 of September." Boys includes it in his Birds of Sand-^ 

 wick, 1792. The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, 

 says it is " not uncommon in Eomney Marsh." 



In 1849 Mr. J. B. Ellman records that "a specimen 



