UFA •vRviROsrnu). /•;. ;n 5 



At certain seasons the Avocet is not nncommon on the 

 coast, at "W^xlwich Bay, Sandwich Harbour, Angra 

 recjucnla, tJs:c. ; but it usually disappears from Daniara 

 Land during the breeding-season, though I have little 

 doubt that a few pairs remain to nest there, as 1 have 

 occasionally nu»t with very young birds during the dry 

 time of the year. 



The Avocet is generally obscn'ved in small ilocks, and 

 is on the whole a shy and wary bird. It is an interesting 

 object to the ornithologist, to whom its graceful figure, 

 as it quietly skirts the glassy pool or wades amongst the 

 shallows on the sea-shore, never fails to be a source^ of 

 ])l(\\sure. It feeds on insects, worms, tlun-skinned Crus- 

 tacea, &c., which it seeks when they are left exposcnl on 

 the nuid or sand by the receding tide, and also by wading 

 kn(>e-dee[) in shallow water. 



The flesh of the Avocet is not un])alatable. 



The iris is light cherry-colour; the bill is black. 



Measurenumts of a female : — 



in. lin. 



Kntiiv lon-tli lo U 



l.ru-th ..ffoUl.'.l wiuo- SO 



tiusus .'{.'{ 



nu.ldl,' t.H« 1 (5 



(ail o 2 



bill ;5 4 



369. Himantopus autumnalis. MmoiHiin stilt. 



lliiiKOifopiis uiclaiioptcnis, ({ould's i'.inls of JMiroiU', ]il. I'SH. 



Strickliiml \- Sclntt-r, llinis Diimur., 

 Conlr. Oin. IS.VJ, p. 1,V,). 

 lliimnitopiis nn,<li,ht<, Lavard's Cat. N.«. (US. 

 Chantdnus /iiimait<>j>i<s, CliainuauV Travels in S. AlV.. .Vpp. p. 4-JO. 



