1 68 British Birds^ 



appearance of a " rare bird " is enough to set half a 

 village off in pursuit, and tlic o^reRt object of hundreds 

 throughout the country seems just to be to destroy 

 the casual feathered visitor, however interesting it 

 may be, or whatever claims it might seem to possess 

 on our hospitality. The Avocet's bill and plumage 

 are enough to point it out for slaughter, and so, 

 slaughtered it has been. It used to breed in Sussex 

 and Norfolk. " The nest is said to be a small hole in 

 the drier parts of extensive marshes. The eggs are 

 said to be only two in number, of a clay-coloured 

 brown, spotted and speckled with black." 



BLACK- WINGED '^TYL'l—^Himantopus candidiis ; 



formerly, H. vielanoptcms). 



Long-legged Plover, Long-Legs, Long-Shanks, Stilt 



Plover. — Not so very uncommon as a visitor : but still, 



strictly speaking, only accidental in its appearance here. 



. ; .' • GREY PHALAROPE— (P/;^/^r^///j- fulicarius ; 

 formerly, P. lobaUis). 



Red Phalarope. — Supposed, some half century 

 since, to be exceedingly rare in this country, but 

 now known to visit our shores in small numbers, 

 perhaps annually, on their way to their winter place 

 of sojourning. Like the Coot, they are lobe-footed, 

 and very capable swimmers. 



X RED-NECKED PHALAROPE— (/'/^^/^r^/z/j 



^ hyperboreus). 



Red Phalarope. — More rare than the last-named in 



