214 THE BIEDS OF SUSSEX. 



summer^ and along the coast in the winter^ has now become 

 quite extinct as a native, and I have never seen it alive 

 except in confinement. Many years ago, I was told that 

 three had been observed on the mud flats near Old Shoreham 

 bridge, and I went in hope of seeing them, though I did 

 not succeed ; but walking on the mud I came to a spot 

 where I observed many zigzag marks on it, which, I have no 

 doubt, were made by these birds, as I have seen elsewhere 

 that their method of obtaining food is by passing the some- 

 what flattened portion of their whalebone-like bill over the 

 surface of the mud, thus raising the little crustaceans known 

 as sandhoppers, and catching them with the upturned point 

 of it. The Avocet is a good swimmer, and dives well. When 

 disturbed it flies round the intruder, uttering loud whistling 

 cries. 



Markwick states that it was not uncommon on the sea- 

 coast of Sussex, and that he had found a young one near 

 Rye, which seemed to have been just hatched, and took it in 

 his hand, the old birds flying overhead. 



Mr. Jefi^ery in his P. N, records that an Avocet was shot 

 in June 1859, on a tide-mill pond at Sidlesham ; and in the 

 'Zoologist,' p. 9211, he mentions another, shot on the 

 same pond, an 1 that this proved on dissection to be a male ; 

 the gizzard contained nothing but a few stones. 



On July 14th, 1853, an adult Avocet and two others, 

 young of the year, were shot by Mr. Dennis, at the upper 

 tide-mill near Newhaven, and a few mornings after, three 

 others were obtained on the tide-mill salts. He also informs 

 me that they were very tame, and he particularly observed 

 their mode of feeding, which seemed to be by thrusting 

 their bills forward and a little upward into the softest mud, 

 Avhere there was an inch or two of water, the bird making 

 sometimes a short and very rapid run, the Avebbed feet 

 being apparently excellent mud-pattens. Mr. Dodd, of 



