588 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



the Cottonian MS., about 1604 ; the locality would be 

 eminently suitable for them, but I have not been able to 

 ascertain that even the proverbial " oldest inhabitant " 

 ever recollected it nesting there. On those portions of the 

 coast outside the areas named it occurs sparingly, and 

 generally when on migration. 



It is also reported from many inland places in the dales, 

 far removed from its accustomed haunts, where it generally 

 frequents reservoirs or follows the course of rivers, the 

 enumeration of which would prove tedious, and is unnecessary. 

 Lord Walsingham informed Mr. W. Eagle Clarke, in August 

 1883, that he shot a mature bird on Thackerey Beck, Bluber- 

 housfe, the only one ever known there ; and from most of the 

 reservoirs on the West Riding moors it has been recorded at 

 various times. 



Although the Oyster- Catcher is not usually held in high 

 esteem as a table delicacy, I can testify that the young birds 

 are excellent eating in early autumn, though later in the year 

 they become rank and fishy, as may be understood from the 

 last meal of an individual killed near Whitby, which consisted 

 of no fewer than seventy-seven limpets, or " flithers " as they 

 are locally called, extracted from the shells. 



The vernacular names are : Sea Pie, or Sea Nanpie, in 

 general use, and Mussell Cracker is a term applied to the 

 bird in the Teesmouth district. 



AVOCET. 

 Recurvirostris avocetta 



Accidental visitant from the European Continent, of extremely 

 rare occurrence. 



The first reliable mention of the Avocet, as a Yorkshire 

 species, is apparently that referred to in Thomas Allis's Report, 

 thus : 



