314 BIBDS OF DAMABA LAND. 



of each other. It seems to feed chiefly on insects ; and 

 its flesh is very palatable. 



The iris is brown. 



Measurements of a male : — 



in. lin. 



Entire lengtli 9 2 



Length of folded wing 4 9 



„ tarsus 19 



„ middle toe . . ... 1 5 



„ tail 19 



bill 1 10 



RECURVIROSTEID^ *. 



368. Reciirvirostra aVOCetta, Linn. European Avocet. 



Heciirvirostra avocetta, Gould's Birds of Europe, pi. 308. 

 „ ,, Layard's Cat. No_. 617. 



„ „ Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 420. 



„ „ Finsch & Hartlaub's Vbgel Ost-Afrika'a, 



p. 755. 



This handsome and peculiar bird is occasionally found 

 on the south-west coast of Africa, and also occurs, 

 though less frequently, inland. In the Cape Colony, 

 however, I have found the case, as regards its distribution, 

 slightly reversed. 



I may mention as inland localities for this species 

 Objimbinque, where I have seen it once or twice, and 

 Ondonga, where it Avas shot by Axel. 



* [Mr. G. R. Gray, in his ' Hand-list of Birds,' which I cite as the most 

 modern work on ornithological systematic arrangement, includes this group 

 as a subfamily of the ScoUqMcidee ; but it seems to me that it may more 

 naturally be regarded as forming a distinct and independent family, and I 

 have therefore so treated it. — Ed.] 



