CHARADEIID^ EBCUHVIKOSTKA 383 



along the bill; wings moderate, hardly reaching the tip of the tail, 

 first primary the longest ; tail moderate, slightly rounded ; legs not 

 so long as in Himantopus ; the tarsus about twice the length of the 

 middle toe and claw, and reticulated all round ; hind toe small and 

 rudimentary, but clawed ; front toes strongly webbed more than 

 half way down the phalanges. 



Four species of Avocet are recognised, spread nearly all over the 

 world; only one, here described, is found in Africa. 



735. EecurYirostra avocetta. Avocet. 



Beourvjrostra avocetta, Linn. Syst. Nat. 12th ed. i, p. 256 (1766) ; KirJc, 

 Ibis, 1864, p. 332 ; Laijard, B. S. Afr. p. 328 (1867) ; id. Ibis, 1869, 

 p. 76; Gurney, in Andersson's B. Damaral. p. 314 (1872); Dresser, 

 B. Eur. vii, p. 577, pi. 534 (1875) ; Butler, Feildcn and Reid, Zool. 

 1882, p. 425; Shariye, ed. Layard's B. S. Afr. p. 673 (1884); id. 

 Cat. B. M. xxiv, p. 326 (1896) ; Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 193 (1896) ; 

 Reichenow, Vog. Afr. i, p. 206 (1900); Dates, Cat. B. Eggs, ii, p. 35 

 (1902) ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1904, p. 10 [Deelfontein] . 



Himantopus avocetta, Seebohm, Oeogr. Distr. Charadr. p. 289, with 

 fig. (1888). 



" Boiite Elsje" {i.e.. Pied Cobbler's Awl) also " Sprinken vogel " of the 

 Dutch. 



Description. Adult Male. — Forehead, crown and a broad band 

 down the hind neck, a V-shaped patch on the mantle and inner 

 scapulars, median coverts and inner secondaries forming a band 

 along the wing, outer primaries and primary coverts, except at the 

 bases, black ; rest of the plumage pure white, the tail ashy-grey. 



Iris reddish ; bill black ; legs and feet leaden-black. 



Length about 18-0 ; wing 8-25; tail 3-25; culmen 3-25;. tarsus 

 3-2. 



The sexes are alike. 



Distribiotion. — The Avocet is found in suitable localities through- 

 out Central and Southern Europe and Asia, from Spain to Mon- 

 golia and India. It was formerly a regular summer migrant to the 

 British Islands, but now, chiefly owing to the drainage of the Fen 

 country, is only an occasional visitor. It is found throughout Africa 

 and Madagascar and breeds in suitable localities. 



The following are recorded localities in South Africa, where it is 

 by no means uncommon, and apparently resident throughout the 

 year : Cape Colony — Berg Eiver, breeding, Cape division and 



