214 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



summer, and along the coast in the winterj has now become 

 quite extinct as a native, and I have never seen it alive 

 except in confinement. Many years ago, I was told that 

 three had been observed on the mud flats near Old Shoreham 

 bridge, and I went in hope of seeing them, though I did 

 not succeed; but walking on the mud I came to a spot 

 where I observed many zigzag marks on it, which, I have no 

 doubt, were made by these birds, as I have seen elsewhere 

 that their method of obtaining food is by passing the some- 

 what flattened portion of their whalebone-like bill over the 

 surface of the mud, thus raising the little crustaceans known 

 as sandhoppers, and catching them with the upturned point 

 of it. The Avocet is a good swimmer, and dives well. When 

 disturbed it flies round the intruder, uttering loud whistling 

 cries. 



Markwick states that it was not uncommon on the sea- 

 coast of Sussex, and that he had found a young one near 

 Rye, which seemed to have been just hatched, and took it in 

 his hand, the old birds flying overhead. 



Mr. Jefiery in his P. N. records that an Avocet was shot 

 in June 1859, on a tide-mill pond at Sidlesham ; and in the 

 'Zoologist,' p. 9211, he mentions another, shot on the 

 same pond, anl that this proved on dissection to be a male ; 

 the gizzard contained nothing but a few stones. 



On July 14th, 1853, an adult Avocet and two others, 

 young of the year, were shot by Mr. Dennis, at the upper 

 tide-mill near Newhaven, and a few mornings after, three 

 others were obtained on the tide-mill salts. He also informs 

 me that they were very tame, and he particularly observed 

 their mode of feeding, which seemed to be by thrusting 

 their bills forward and a little upward into the softest mud, 

 where there was an inch or two of water, the bird making 

 sometimes a short and very rapid run, the webbed feet 

 being apparently excellent mud-pattens. Mr. Dodd, of 



