The Natural History of Selborne 333 



The old name of himantopus is taken from Pliny; and, by an 

 awkward metaphor, implies that the legs are as slender and pliant 

 as if cut out of a thong of leather. Neither Willughby 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 Conti- 

 nent, since nobody can suppose that a species not noticed once in an 

 age, and of such a remarkable make, can constantly breed unob- 

 served in this kingdom. 



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

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



