4 



Behring's Straits, and many other parts of the Arctic 

 regions, where, as well as in 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, SCOOPEE. 



BECURYIKOSTRA AYOSETTA, 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 a hole in the drier part 

 of marshes. Its eggs, 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, 



