254 A HANDBOOK OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. 
half.of tail-feathers, a broad bast across the wings, entire uuder 
parts below the chest, and under wing-feathers z/z¢e ; primaries 
marked on inner webs with white ; plumage otherwise black ; 
bill orange, deeper towards the base ; legs and feet purplish 
flesh- colour ; irides crimson. Length ‘about 16 inches ; culmen 
2°75; wing 9°5 to 9°75 5 taili45 tarsus 1°3. 
Adults (Winter): Similar, but have white round the 
front and sides of the neck ; bill browner towards the tip. 
Young in first plumage: “The greater wing-coverts, 
innermost secondaries, and scapulars have pale buff margins, 
the longest upper tail-coverts are barred with buff and black at 
the tip, and, as in adult summer plumage, there is no white on 
the throat” (Seebohm). 
Distribution : Summer visitant to most European coasts 
(resident in some northern countries) and to a few inland 
waters, also to Western Siberia. Occurs during winter as far 
south in Africa as Senegambia and Mozambique, and in Asia to 
Ceylon and Burmah. 
Habitat: The margins of rivers and lakes, or the sea-coast. 
Family SCOLOPACID. 
Genus RECURVIROSTRA. 
YAVOGCE DT: vw 
Recurvirostra avocetta Linn. 
Adult: Forehead, crown, back of neck, some of scapulars, 
lesser wing-coverts, primaries and some of innermost secondaries 
black; plumage otherwise white ; d2//7 (slender and recurved) 
black, legs and feet bluish-grey ; irides reddish-brown. Length 
nearly 18 inches ; culmen 3°25 ; wing 8°5 ; tail 3; tarsus 3°6. 
Young in first plumage : Black parts brown, many of the 
feathers having pale rufous margins, white parts likewi ise suf: 
fused with brown. 
Distribution : Eee the central and southern portions 
of the Palearctic region, breeding as far north as Denmark, 
migrating southward in autumn to Ceylon in Asia and Cape 
Colony in Africa. 
Habitat: The sea-coast, shores of lagoons, or mud flats. 
