308 RECURVIROSTRA AVOCETTA. 



have inferred from its structure, rather than actually observed. 

 Mr. Selby merely repeats, with the necessary amplification, 

 what Montagu relates ; and Mr. Moody, after informing us 

 " in what time would the productive power of a single pair 

 of fishes, if it could act unrestrained, convert the matter of 

 the whole solar system into fish," gives a very particular 

 account of its mode of proceeding, but omits the very essen- 

 tial declaration of his having seen and watched the bird 

 scooping " alternately left and right, with ease, with effect, 

 and even with a grace, almost unparelled in the action of 

 birds." All that seems to be authentic in the accounts given 

 by authors may be reduced to few words. 



The Avocet, which is now of rare occurrence in any part 

 of the country, still bred in Montagu's time in the fens of 

 Lincolnshire, and in Romney Marsh, in Kent ; but appears 

 now to rank in England only as a casual visitant, or winter 

 resident. Assembling in small flocks, in winter, it frequents 

 the shores and estuaries of the south-eastern coasts, and 

 feeds on worms, insects, and mollusca, which it obtains, it is 

 said, not by patting or probing, but by an alternating lateral 

 motion of the bill among the soft mud. The use of its webs 

 seems to be chiefly to support it on the yielding surface, for 

 it has not been observed to swim. It wades out in the water, 

 runs with rapidity, vibrates its body when standing, has a 

 powerful flight, and a long shrill cry. According to M. Tem- 

 minck, it forms a small cavity among the grass or in the 

 sand, and lays two, seldom three, eggs, of an olivaceous grey 

 colour, sprinkled with numerous blackish spots. It is said 

 to resemble the Totani and other birds of this family, in its 

 attempt to decoy intruders from its nest or young. 



It is met with in Africa, various parts of Asia, and in 

 Europe as far north as SAveden. In England it is now scarce, 

 and I have not seen a specimen obtained in Scotland ; but 

 the Hev. Mr. James Leslie, of Coul, and Dr. Dickie, of Bel- 

 fast, inform me that " one was shot in the Old Town Links, 

 Aberdeen, in 1841." Mr. Thomson mentions several speci- 

 mens met with in Ireland. 



Young. — The young, when their plumage is complete, 



