Recurvikostba. birds. PRESSIROSTRES. lai 



with ferruffinous. A white band across the wings and the two middle tail- 

 feathers. Beneath white, with cinereous spots on the flanks. Female has 

 the reddish colour mixed with cinereous — Nest of grass, on the margin of 

 lakes. Eggs olive, with crowded black spots. The young havti the ])lumage, 

 above, brownish-black, the feathers on the back with a reddish margin ; La- 

 iieath greyish-white, with a tinge of yellow on the neck. The old birds in 

 winter are said to resemble the young. This species breeds in several small 

 lakes in Orkne}', where it is called Water-Snipe. It is rare in other districts, 

 and usually appears only as a winter visitant. 



Gen. LXV. RECURVIROSTRA. Avoset.— Bill recur- 

 ved ; connecting membrane of the toes reaching nearly to 

 the extremity. 



135. R. Avocetta. Scooping Avoset. — Crown, hind neck, 

 back and quills black ; rest of the plumage white. 



Will. Orn. 240. Linn. Syst. i. 25G. Penn. Brit. Zool. ii. 504. Temm. 



Orn. ii. 590 E, ButterHip, Scooper, Yelper, Picarini, Crooked-belly, 



Cobler's-awl ; W, Pig mynawd Resident in England, a straggler in 



Scotland. 

 Length 18, breadth 30 inches; weight 13 ounces. Bill black, slender, 

 flexible. Legs bluish-grey. Irides reddish-brown. Outer scapulars and 

 middle covers of the ^vings black ; ridge of the wings and greater covers 

 white. Female similar — Nest in a small hole on the drier parts of exten- 

 sive marshes. Eggs 2, olive-gi'ey, with black spots. In the young^ the black 



has a brownish tinge, and the scapular feathers have a reddish border After 



the breeding. season, this bird retires from the fens, and assembles in flocks of 

 six or seven, frequenting the sea- shore during the winter season. 



Gen. LXVI. NUMENIUS. Curlew.— Face feathered. 

 Nasal groove extending three-fourths of the length of the 

 bill. Nostrils linear. Hind toe touching the earth. The 

 first quill longest. 



136. N.arquata. Common Curlew. — Plumage greyish- white, 

 with brown streaks : scapulars black, with brown margins. 



Will. Orn. 216. Sibb. Scot. 18 — Scolopax arq. Linn. Syst. i. 242. Pen7i. 

 Brit. Zool. ii. 429.— Num. arq. Temm. Orn. ii. COS — S, Whaap, Stock 

 Whaap; W, Gylfinhir — Common. 



Length 24, breadth 42 inches ; weight 37 ounces. Bill black, 6 or 7 inches 

 long. Legs lead-coloured. Breast, belly and rump white, with oblong 

 dusky spots and bars. Tail of 12 |^athers,'grey, with brown bands. Female 

 with more grey and legs brown — Nest in unfrequented heaths and marshes, 

 of dried stalks. Eggs 5, olive, Avith brown spots. Vonng leave the nest up- 

 on being hatched : have the bUl short, and the plumage like the female 



The curlew soon leaves the breeding-ground, and, during the winter season, 

 frequents the sea-shore, and damp grounds in the neighbourhood. 



137. N. Phcopus. Whimbrel Curlew. — Plumage greyish- 

 white, wath brown streaks ; scapulars brown, with pale edges ; 

 longitudinal brown band on each side of the crown. 



Arquata minor, Will. Orn — Scol. Pheop. Linn. Syst. i. 243. Penn. BriL 



