HIMANTOPUS.] AVES GRALLATORES. 201 



Occasionally observed in small flocks on the coast during the winter 

 months, as well as in marshes and on the banks of rivers, but not a very 

 common species. Doubtful whether it ever remains through the Summer. 

 According to Temminck, breeds within the arctic circle. Food, small fish, 

 worms, and molluscous animals. Obs. The Cinereous Godwit of Pennant 

 is this species in its winter plumage. 



GEN. 75. RECURVIROSTRA, Linn. 



193. R. Avocetta, Linn. (Scooping Jvocet.) Crown, 

 nape, scapulars, and lesser wing-coverts, black : cheeks, and 

 under parts, pure white. 



R. Avocetta, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. u. p. 590. Scooping Avocet, 

 Mont. Orn. Diet. Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. n. p. 116. Selb. Illust. 

 vol. n. p. 90. pi. 20. 



DIMENS. Entire length eighteen inches : length of the bill (from the 

 forehead) three inches, (from the gape) three inches two lines ; of the 

 tarsus two inches nine lines ; of the tail two inches ten lines ; from the 

 carpus to the end of the wing eight inches six lines. 



DESCRIPT. (Adult male and female.) Crown of the head, nape, two- 

 thirds of the hind part of the neck, scapulars, lesser wing-coverts, and 

 primary quills, deep black ; all the rest of the plumage pure white : bill 

 black: irides reddish brown : legs bluish gray. (Young of the year, before 

 the first moult.) " All the black parts of the plumage tinged with brown ; 

 the brownish black on the head not extending below the occiput ; scapu- 

 lars edged with red, and tipped with reddish ash : legs cinereous." TEMM. 

 (Egg.) Olive-brown, blotched and spotted with brownish black: long, 

 diam. two inches three lines; trans, diam. one inch five lines. 



Common in small flocks on some parts of the coast during Winter. 

 Breeds in the fens of Lincolnshire, and in other extensive marshy 

 districts. Lays two eggs. Food, worms and marine insects. 



GEN. 76. HIMANTOPUS, Briss. 



194. H. melanopterus, Temm. (Black-winged Long- 

 shanks.) Occiput, nape, back, and wings, black : rest of 

 the plumage white. 



H. melanopterus, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. n. p. 528. Long- 

 legged Plover, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. n. p. 476. White, Nat. 

 Hist. Selb. vol. n. p. 84. with fig. Mont. Orn. Diet. Shaw, 

 Nat. Misc. vol. vi. pi. 195. Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 365. 

 Black-winged Stilt, Selb. Illust. vol. n. p. 247. pi. 39*. 



DIMENS. Entire length thirteen inches : length of the bill two inches 

 six lines; of the naked part of the tibia three inches six lines; of the 

 tarsus four inches six lines: breadth, wings extended, two feet five 

 inches. 



DESCRIPT. Occiput and nape black, the latter sometimes whitish with 

 dusky streaks ; back and wings glossy black, with greenish reflections : 

 forehead, sides of the face, neck, and all the under parts, pure white, 

 slightly tinged on the breast and belly with rose-red : rump white : tail 

 cinereous gray; the outer feathers white: bill black; irides crimson: 



