96 BRITISH BIRDS. WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



The Avocet's note is a clear melodious whistle, from which, when it bred in 

 Britain, it used to be called the " Yelper " as also the " Scooper," from its peculiar 

 action of the head when feeding and the " cobbler's awl bird," from the shape of 

 its bill. One cannot help thinking that this, and other interesting birds, might 

 still be induced to breed in Britain, if some of our wealthy men instead of 

 helping to make England a monotonous preserve of hand-reared Pheasants, for 

 the purpose of showing how large a number can possibly be scientifically slaughtered 

 in an hour, or a day would be only moved to take an interest in the vanishing 

 members of our wild fauna. This has been done, with good results, in the case 

 of the Fame Islands, and against very great odds for which the Committee of 

 Protection deserve the thanks of all naturalists. But this, of course, is a drop in 

 the ocean. It would not be difficult even for a syndicate of those who are only 

 of moderate means to acquire tracts of fen, waste, and sea-marsh, at present 

 prices, where a gun should never be fired, nor a prowling loafer or collector 

 admitted. In such a sanctuary not an impossible dream it might be possible 

 to see and watch the Avocet, Stilt, Spoonbill, Marsh and Hen Harriers, Great 

 Bustard, and many warblers, ducks and Herons, which now, if they visit Britain 

 at all, have but a short lease of life, and are quite unknown, except as skins, 

 to the majority of English naturalists. 



Family S COL OP A CIDM. 



BLACK-WINGED STILT. 



Himantopus candidus, BONNAT. 



THE Stilt has never been known to breed in Britain, but many specimens 

 have been obtained on our shores, mostly towards the south and east 

 of England. In Scotland some seven, in Ireland three, occurrences are on 

 record. It breeds in the Camargue (Bouches du Rhone), Spain, Portugal, 



