NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



249 



observed it often in the cabinets of the curious at Paris. Hassel- 

 quist says that it migrates to Egypt in the autumn : and a most 

 accurate observer of Nature 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 un- 

 observed in this kingdom 



