BRITISH BIRDS. 59 



there are small white spots; but in the one from 

 which the above figure was taken, a streak of that 

 colour passed over each eye towards the hinder 

 part of the head. The thighs are naked, and, as 

 well as the legs and feet, are of a fine pale blue. 

 The whole plumage of the Avoset is white, inter- 

 sected with black ; and, like most of the variegated 

 or piebald birds, the patches of these colours are 

 not placed exactly the same in every individual; 

 therefore, as the bird cannot be mistaken, a more 

 . minute description is unnecessary. 



These birds are common in the winter about 

 the lakes, mouths of rivers, and marshes, in the 

 southern parts of England; and assemble in large 

 flocks on the fens, in the breeding season. When 

 the female is frightened off her nest, she counter- 

 feits lameness ; and when a flock is disturbed, they 

 fly with their necks stretched out, and their legs 

 extended behind, over the head of the spectator, 

 much in the same way as the Lapwing, making a 

 .shrill noise, and uttering a yelping cry of twit, tunt, 

 all the time. The places where they have been 

 feeding may be traced out by the semi-circular 

 marks left in the mud or sand by their bills in 

 scooping out their food, which consists of spawn, 

 worms, insects, &c. They lay t\vo eggs, two inches 

 in length, irregularly marked with black and ash- 

 coloured spots, on an olive-coloured ground. They 

 keep near the shore, wading about, up to the belly, 

 in the \vater, and sometimes swimming. In all 

 their motions they are smart, lively, and volatile, 

 and do not remain long stationary in one spot. 

 The drawing was done from a stuffed specimen at 

 Wycliffe. 



