OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 173 



Neusiedler See, near Vienna, and in the lagoons of the Black Sea. To the remain- 

 der of the continent, as far north as Southern Scandinavia, it is only an abnormal 

 visitor on migration. South of the Mediterranean it is supposed to breed in suit- 

 able localities throughout the African continent, and in Madagascar, where it 

 probably may do so. Eastwards it is a bird of passage across Asia Minor, a few 

 remaining to winter, and a resident in Palestine and Persia, but a summer 

 visitor only to Northern Turkestan, South-west Siberia, South-east Mongolia, and 

 South Dauria, wintering in India (sometimes in Ceylon) and China, including 

 the islands of Formosa and Hainan. Blakiston and Pryer include the Avocet 

 in their list of the birds of Japan, whilst Temminck and Schlegel had long 

 previously included it in their list in the Fauna Japonica, but until an example 

 has been obtained and identified by competent authorities it seems probable that 

 the American Avocet may be the species that occasionally visits these islands. 



Allied forms. — Becurvirostra americana, an inhabitant of North America, 

 from Great Slave Lake in the north to Texas in the south, the more northern 

 birds wintering in the West Indies and Central America. Differs from the 

 Common Avocet in having the secondaries white, the major part of the outer web 

 brown ; and in breeding plumage in having the head and neck dull chestnut. 

 B. rubricoUis (B. novm hoUandice, of many authors) an inhabitant of Australia, 

 occasionally occurring in Tasmania, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and New Guinea. 

 Differs from the Common Avocet in having a chestnut head and neck during the 

 breeding season, and in having the combination of the secondaries white on both 

 webs, much white on the scapulars, but none on the tertials. 



Habits. — The habits of the Avocet resemble very closely those of the 

 Common Stilt. Like that species it is a migratory bird, arriving at its European 

 breeding places in April and May, and leaving them again in September. Its 

 haunts are low, sandy coasts, salt marshes, lagoons, and muddy islands. In 

 these places it frequents the waterside, and not only wades in the shallows but 

 swims well and lightly whenever it has occasion to do so. It runs quickly over 

 the treacherous muds, and walks with graceful steps hither and thither in quest 

 of food. Although conspicuous enough on the bare muds and sands, or on the 

 short turf of the salt marshes, it is said not to be very shy, but it is careful to 

 keep well out of harm's way notwithstanding. Its flight is similar to that of 

 of the Stilt, the neck and legs being outstretched, and in the air the bird's strongly 

 contrasted black and white plumage gives it a very singular appearance. Like the 

 Stilt it is also more or less gregarious, especially in winter, when the flocks are 

 sometimes very large ; and it also possesses the habit of running for a little way 

 either just before or after flight. This species frequently alights upon the sea, 

 but although it swims well it is not known to dive. The food of the Avocet is 

 composed of small worms, crustaceans, and various kinds of aquatic insects and 



