577 



BEGUBVIBOSTBA AVOCETT^ 



(AVOCET.) 



Avocetta, Brisson, Orn. vi. p. 538, pi. 48. fig. 2 (1760). 

 Becurvirostra avocetta, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 256 (1766). 

 Scolopax avosetta (L.), Scop. Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 92 (1769). ' 

 LAvocette, Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. viii. p. 466, pi. 38 (1781). 

 Becurvirostra europcea, Dumont, Diet. Sc. Nat. iii. p. 339 (1816). 

 Becurvirostra jissipes, C. L. Brehm, Vog. DeutschL p. 686 (1831). 

 Becurvirostra helebi, A. E. Brehm, J. fur Orn. 1854, p. 84. 

 Becurvirostra helevi, C. L. Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 326 (1855). 

 Becurvirostra sinensis, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1867, p. 401. 



Avocette a nuque noire, French; Alfayate, Frade, Portuguese; Avoceta, Boceta, Spanish; 

 Avocetta, Italian ; Scifa, Maltese ; Bou-mehet, Moorish ; Avosett-Sabler, Sabelschiabler, 

 German ; Kluit, Dutch ; Brogeblit, Klyde, Danish ; Klyde, Norwegian ; Skarflacka, 

 Swedish. 



Figures notabiles. 

 D'Aubenton, PL Enl. 353 ; Werner, Atlas, Gralles, pi. 3 ; Kjserb. Orn. Dan. taf. 33 ; Fritsch, 

 Vog. Eur. taf. 34. fig. 7; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 204; Sundevall, Svensk. Fogl. 

 pi. 38. fig. 1 ; Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 368 ; id. B. of G. B. iv. pi. 53 ; Schlegel, Vog. Nederl. 

 pi. 250 ; Bechst. Orn. Taschenb. pi. 29. 



Ad. albus : pileo, capitis lateribus usque ad oculos, nucha et collo postico, scapularibus intimis, tectricibus 

 alarum (intimis exceptis) et remigibus primariis nigris : rostro nigro : iride rufescenti-brunnea, : 

 pedibus pallide cseruleis. 



Juv. adulto similis, sed partibus nigris in corpore supra brunneo adunibratis, et partibus albis vix ochraceo 

 tinctis. 



Adult Male (S. Spain, June). Crown, sides of the head to below the eye, nape, and hind neck deep sooty 

 black ; rest of the neck, back, rump, tail, and entire underparts pure white ; primaries black, secondaries 

 and primary-coverts white, some of the innermost secondaries deep blackish brown; wing-coverts 

 (except those at the base of the wing) black ; outer scapulars and the coverts at the base of the wing 

 white, inner scapulars black, slightly varied with white ; beak black ; iris rich reddish brown ; legs 

 light blue. Total length about 18 inches, culmen 4'0, wing 85, tail 3-45, tarsus 3 - 65. 



Adult Female (Boel, Jutland) . Differs from the male merely in having a rather shorter tarsus, that of the 

 specimen before me measuring only 3'2 inches. 



Nestling (Denmark, 1 872) . Covered with short, rather dull white down ; crown and nape tinged with 



3y 



