4 
Behring’s Straits, and many other parts of the Arctic 
regions, where, as well asin Iceland and the Faroe 
Islands, it is said to breed. Its eggs, one or two 
in number, are about the size of a Blackbird’s, and 
of a pale blue colour. 
AVOCET, SCOOPER. 
Recurvirostra avoseTta, Lin. 
This species is so called from its peculiar-shaped 
bill, which resembles two narrow flexible pieces of 
whalebone curved upwards, and about three and 
a half inches long. It was common in England 
some years since, more particularly on the Norfolk 
coast, but is now comparatively rare. It is found 
by lakes and the mouths of rivers, &c. in which it 
wades about, keeping near the shore. The foot 
being semi-palmated (or partly web-footed), it has 
the power of supporting itself on the water. The 
nest of this bird is made in the hole in the drier part 
of marshes. It eges, which are two in number 
and about one inch and a half in length, have a 
light grey ground, marked with dark brown irregu- 
lar spots, with dusky under markings. The female, 
when disturbed by the presence of an intruder, 
feigns lameness, and flies about him in a manner 
similar to that of the Peewit Plover, uttering a 
yelping cry, from whence it is sometimes called 
the Yelper. 
