BRITISH BIRDS. 175 



and upper tail-coverts, which are white ; below white ; 

 bill red, yellowish at base and tip ; iris deep red ; feet 

 purplish-pink. Length i6'oo. Young : browner above. 



Breeds on nearly all the flat shores of the British Isles ; 

 in winter occurring in flocks and partly migratory. Eggs : 

 usually 3 ; pale buffi sh-yellow, rather sparingly spotted, 

 scrolled or even blotched with brownish-black ; 2.25 by I *6o. 



Family Scolopacidse. 



GENUS CLXIII. RECURVIROSTRA, Linnaeus (1766). 

 Bill very long and slender, flexible, flattened and curving 

 upwards. Tibia chiefly naked ; tarsus long ; three front 

 toes joined by a web as far as second joint ; hind toe small 

 and elevated. 



288. Reeurvirostra avoeetta, Linn. AVOCET. 

 Hab. Temperate Europe and Asia ; also Africa. 

 f Now a rare visitor in spring to the south and east of 

 England ; not known to have bred for many years ; few 

 stragglers reach Scotland, while in Ireland only three have 

 been taken (one in autumn). 



GENUS CLXIV. HIMANTOPUS, Brisson (1760). 

 287- H. himantopus (Linn.). BLACK-WINGED STILT. 



flab. Southern Palasarctic and Oriental regions. 



A rare and irregular spring visitor, chiefly to the east 

 and south of England, but it has occurred as far north as 

 the Shetlands, and five or six timss in Ireland. 



GENUS CLXV. PHALAROPUS, Brisson (1760). 

 Bill longer than head, straight, somewhat slender and 

 tapering, base depressed. Anterior toes furnished with 

 broad membraneous lobes ; hind toe present, but moderate. 



