HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. [151 



crown black ; a short pendant crest, a black spot at each corner of 

 the mouth ; plumage pale dun yellow, spotted with black, feathers 

 of the breast long and loose, legs greenish, hind claw very long ; 

 makes a bellowing noise, hollow and loud, which may be heard afar, 

 and formerly deemed ominous. 



RECURVIROSTRA AVOSETTA The Avosseltt Bill 3f inches long; 

 above black and white, beneath white, legs blue and very long ; 

 thighs naked. Rare: Aqualate-mere. 



SCOLOPAX ARQUATA The Curlew; Bill arched, six inches long, 

 plumage white, spotted with black, quills black, tail white, barred 

 with black, legs bluish grey ; weight from 22 to 37 ounces. Shot 

 near Breewood. 



2. RUSTICOLA The Woodcock: Bill three inches long ; above 

 variegated with red brown, black, and grey, beneath dirty white, 

 with transparent dark lines, chin yellow ; weight 12 ounces, length 

 14 inches. 



3. GALLENAGO The Snipe-. Bill three inches, four black and red 

 longitudinal lines on the head; chin, breast, and belly white; neck 

 red and brown; scapulars black and yellow; tail tipped with white ; 

 legs pale green : weight four ounces, length 12 inches. 



4. GALLENULA The Jack Snipe ; Beckett: Bill If inch, crown 

 black, rump shining purple, over each eye a yellow stroke ; weight 

 scarce two ounces, length nine inches. 



5. CALIDRIS The Redshank; Whistling Plover : Bill two inches, 

 red at the base, black at the end ; head, back of the neck, and sca- 

 pulars dusky ash colour, spotted with black ; back and under side 

 of the body white, spotted with black ; tail barred with black and 

 white ; legs orange : weight 5f ounces, length 12 inches. The 

 note of this species is shrill, resembling the human whistle, and may 

 be heard half a mile. Aqualate-mere. 



TRINGA VANELLUS The Lapwing; Pewit: Bill, crown, crest^ 

 and throat black ; a black line under each eye, back purplish green, 

 wings and tail black and white, legs red ; weight eight ounces, 

 length 13 inches. Has great powers of flight, and darts with great 

 celerity ; during nidification shew great anxiety, and to divert the 

 attention of a man or dog approaching their nest, will fly so near 

 as almost to come in contact. 



2. HYPOLEUCUS The Common Sandpiper: Bill, head, and quills 

 brown; neck dark ash colour, back brown mixed with green, with 

 transverse dusky lines ; longitudinal black lines on the head ; a 



