632 SCOLOPACIDJE. 



My own specimen, from which the figure and description 

 here given was derived, was obtained in the London market 

 in July 1824, and was sent up for sale from Lincolnshire : 

 while this bird was in the hands of Mr. Leadbeater for 

 preservation, another was received from Norfolk. In the 

 intestines of this last specimen, which I examined, was a 

 species of tape worm, six inches in length, broad, flat, and 

 jointed. T. H. Gurney, Esq. and Mr. W. E. Fisher have 

 each noticed a specimen killed at Yarmouth in May 1842. 



Interesting accounts of an American Stilt, with a black 

 neck, will be found in the works of Wilson, Mr. J. J. Au- 

 dubon, and Dr. Nuttall, with which, in its habits, the 

 European species most likely agrees . Our bird appears to 

 prefer the margins of lakes rather than the sides of rivers : 

 it lays four eggs, which have been figured by Dr. Thiene- 

 mann, and are represented of a pale blue colour, blotched 

 and spotted with ash green, and dark brown ; one inch 

 nine lines in length, by one inch three lines in breadth. 

 Its food consists of aquatic insects. 



M. Temminck says this bird is never seen in Holland, 

 but has been taken in Germany. M. Vieillot does not in- 

 clude it in his Birds of France. White of Selborne says 

 that a most accurate observer of nature assured him that 

 he had found it on the banks of the streams in Andalusia. 

 It is seen on its passage at Genoa and Italy in spring, and 

 M. Temminck says that it breeds in Sardinia. Specimens 

 have been brought to this country from South Africa both 

 by Captain Spiller and Dr. Andrew Smith ; and again 

 quoting White of Selborne, " Hasselquist says that it 

 migrates to Egypt in the autumn.' 11 It is seen in Sicily 

 on its passage northwards in March, and has been known 

 to winter in Malta, remaining there from November till 

 spring. It has been found at Tripoli. The Zoological 



