RECUR VIROSTRIDJ2. 315 



At certain seasons the Avocet is not uncommon on the 

 coast, at Walwich Bay, Sandwich Harbour, Angra 

 Pequena, &c. ; but it usually disappears from Damara 

 Land during the breeding-season, though I have little 

 doubt that a few pairs remain to nest there, as I have 

 occasionally met with very young birds during the dry 

 time of the year. 



The Avocet is generally observed in small flocks, and 

 is on the whole a shy and wary bird. It is an interesting 

 object to the ornithologist, to whom its graceful figure, 

 as it quietly skirts the glassy pool or wades amongst the 

 shallows on the sea-shore, never fails to be a source of 

 pleasure. It feeds on insects, worms, thin-skinned crus- 

 tacea, &c., which it seeks when they are left exposed on 

 the mud or sand by the receding tide, and also by wading 

 knee-deep in shallow water. 



The flesh of the Avocet is not unpalatable. 



The iris is light cherry-colour ; the bill is black. 



Measurements of a female : 



in. lin. 



Entire length 15 9 



Length of folded wing 80 



tarsus 33 



middle toe 16 



tail 32 



bill 3 4 



369. Himantopus autumnalis. European Stilt. 



Himantopus melanopterus, Gould's Birds of Europe, pi. 289. 



Strickland & Sclater, Birds Damar., 



Contr. Orn. 1852, p. 159. 

 Himantopus candidus, Layard's Cat. No. 618. 

 Charadrius himantopus, Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 420. 



