The Natural History of Set borne 349 



nor Ray, in all their curious researches, either at home or 

 abroad, ever saw this bird. Mr. Pennant never met with it 

 in all Great Britain, but observed it often in the cabinets of 

 the curious at Paris. Hasselquist says that it migrates to 

 Egypt in the autumn; and a most accurate observer of Nature 1 

 has assured me that he has found it on the banks of the 

 streams in Andalusia. 



Our writers record it to have been found only twice in 

 Great Britain. From all these relations it plainly appears 

 that these long-legged plovers are birds of South Europe, and 

 rarely visit our island ; and when they do, are wanderers and 

 stragglers, and impelled to make so distant and northern an 

 excursion from motives or accidents for which we are not able 

 to account. One thing may fairly be deduced, that these 

 birds come over to us from the Continent, since nobody can 

 suppose that a species not noticed once in an age, and of 

 such a remarkable make, can constantly breed unobserved in 

 this kingdom. 



1 The "accurate observer of nature" so often alluded to is almost un- 

 doubtedly Gilbert White's brother, the Rev. John White of Gibraltar. 

 ED. 



