312 THE BIEDS OF DEVOX. 



perhaps the richest in all the kingdom in its list of 

 Waders. 



VCe shall remark on the Phalaropes further on. 



[Observation. — There is a small Sandpiper, less in size than a Jack Suipe, 

 included in the British list, the Broad-billed Sandjnper, Zi/zru-o^rt j^j7«f_?/- 

 rJn/ncha, "which has not yet been obtained in the S.^\'. of England, and has 

 only occurred four or five times in the Eastern Counties, and once in 

 Ireland. This species is to be readily distinguished by its broad beak, 

 "which gives it its name. Its summer-quarters come as close to us as 

 Sweden and Xorway, so that it is singular it does not oftener visit this 

 country. In its breeding-plumage it has dark feathers on the back, edged 

 with yellow and rufous, and in its winter dress it is grey like the 

 Dunlin. 1 



Avocet. Hecurvirostra avocetta, Linn. 



A casual visitor, of rare occurrence, in autumn, winter, and spring. 



In former days this singular-looking bird was a regular summer visitor 

 to the fenlands in the eastern counties, where it nested commonly. It is 

 now only a rare occasional straggler to this country, and has been but 

 seldom seen in Devonshire. 



Polwbele mentions a specimen obtained on the Dart (Hist, of Devon). Dr. E. 

 Moore says that Avocets liad been often seen on the E.\e, from wlience Mr. Couiyiis 

 obtained the two in his collection. On? in the possession of Mr. Tripe was shot on the 

 Taniar (Trans. Plvui. Inst. 18.'5U, p. 3'6\). He also mentions Arocets obtained on tiie 

 Tavy and the Kingsbridge estuary (Kowe's Peramb. I^artnioor, p. 23-1). These pro- 

 bably comprised the four mentioned by Yarrell as having been obtained in Devonshire 

 (B. Birds, '2nd ed. ii. p. i'>2b). One near Plymouth in Soy. 1854 (J. G., 'Naturalist,' 

 1855, p. 72; Morris, B. Birds, iv. p. 225). 



An Avocet was shot by Mr. Prettijohu, of Charleton, on the Kingsbridge estuarj', in 

 the autumn of 183'J (H. N., Zool. 1847, p. 1<)'J4 ; and MS. N'otes). Three, a male and 

 two females, were shot in the same locality early in October 1880 ; two of the.sc, a 

 male and female, on 5th and I8th of the month, Jell to the gun of Mr. E. A. S. Elliot. 

 The male, the largest, measured 17 inches in length, and weighed 10^ oz. The 

 f-males were 15| inches long, and weighed 'J oz. each (H. K., Zool. 18S0, p. 480 ; and 

 E. A. 8. E., MS. N'otes). 



One was shot on the Dart, September 1874 (G. F. M., Zool. 1874, p. 4230). A 

 flock cf six was seen on the Ese estuary in Isovember 1837 (F. W. L. R., MS. Journ. 

 i. p. 44). One killed on Dawlish Warren, in December 1844, is now in the A. M. M. 

 (\V. R. S., Zool. 1845, p. 983). One obtained on the Exe estuary, October Gth, 1855, 

 was nearly entirely white in plumage, having very little black on it (\V. D'U., Zool. 1855, 

 p. 489.5). We believe this specimen was in Mr. Byne's collection. One shot on the 

 Exe, March 20, 18(37, is in the A. M. M. Two were obtained at the end of October 

 1888, at Exmouth. 



In the winter of 1855, a .small flock frequented the estuary of the Taw and Torridge, 

 and three were shot near Bideford. Many years had to pass before another Avocet 

 could be recorded from >'orth Devon, and it was not until the month of Kovember 

 (13th) 1888, that one was obtained near Instow, which is now in the Museum of the 

 Westward Ilo! College. Another wa.s shot on the Barnstaple river on the following 

 day. 



