AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 31 



purpose, though admirably formed for prising limpets 

 from the rocks. 



These Oyster-catchers live at peace with a great 

 variety of other species, and when not engaged in 

 feeding or washing, doze away the day on one leg, 

 and if roused without being alarmed, will often hop 

 away without untucking the other. They now and 

 then perch atop of the clipped privet bushes, or on 

 the larger perches, with which their abode is furnished, 

 and, in common with most wading birds, show great 

 sense in never flying against the wire netting. 



141. BLACK-WINGED STILT. 



Himantopus melanopterus. 



The only record that I possess of the occurrence 

 of the Stilt in the localities of which I am treating 

 is contained in a list of birds furnished to me by 

 Mr. A. Elliot, late of Stamford, who, writing in 1876, 

 states : — " Long-legged Plover. This remarkable 

 bird, now in the possession of Dr. Tootel, Newark, 

 was killed about 1840-45, in the fen-district of Long 

 Sutton." This village is within a short distance of 

 Wisbeach, and although not in Northamptonshire, is 

 situated in a district watered by our Nen. 



The Stilt is only a straggler to our Islands, and 

 never abundant therein, generally appearing in the 

 summer months in pairs or small parties. I gather 

 from the fourth edition of Yarrell, that this bird has 

 been obtained in Surrey, Hants, Cornwall, Devon, 

 Dorset, Sussex, Kent, Oxon, Notts, Gloucestershire, 

 Anglesea, Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincoln, and Yorkshire ; 

 it has also occurred in Scotland and Ireland. This 



