58 



few at Tuggurt in January; and Mr. Salvin writes (Ibis, 1859, p. 359) as follows: — "We only- 

 saw the Avocet at Zana and Djendeli, though we did not until afterwards recognize the 

 birds seen at the latter place as belonging to this species, which they undoubtedly did. At 

 Chot Sahoun, the eastern extremity of the marsh of Zana, the bird was most numerous." 

 According to Colonel Irby (I. c), Favier says that the present species is "not common in 

 the vicinity of Tangier, being only met with on passage, on the edges of rivers and lakes, in 

 small nights, which pass northward during March, April, and May, and return south in 

 November." It occurs here and there on the west coast, and is met with as far south as the 

 Cape colony. Tuckey records it from the Congo ; and Mr. Andersson says (B. of Damara Land, 

 p. 314) that it is " occasionally found on the south-west coast of Africa, and also occurs, though 

 less frequently, inland. In the Cape colony, however, I found the case, as regards its distribu- 

 tion, slightly reversed. I may mention as inland localities for this species Objimbique, where I 

 have seen it once or twice, and Ondonga, where it was shot by Axel. At certain seasons the 

 Avocet is not uncommon on the coast at Walvisch Bay, Sandwich Harbour, Angra, Pequena, 

 &c. ; but it usually disappears from Damara Land during the breeding-season, though I have 

 little doubt that a few pairs remain to nest there, as I have occasionally met with very young 

 birds during the dry time of the year." Mr. E. L. Layard, writing on its occurrence in the 

 Cape colony (B. of S. Afr. p. 328), says that it " occurs periodically in the colony in small flocks. 

 It does not appear to be very shy, as many have been yearly procured on Zeekoe Vley, on the 

 Simon's-Town and Wynberg road, among them several specimens in very young plumage." 

 Since this was written, however, as pointed out by Mr. J. E. Harting (Ibis, 1874, p. 250), the 

 Avocet has been found breeding in the Cape colony, and Mr. Harting has obtained its eggs 

 through Mr. Layard. On the east side of the continent it is recorded by Dr. J. Kirk as not 

 unfrequent in damp localities, near marshes, on the Zambesi ; and Dr. Hartlaub states that it 

 has occurred in Madagascar. 



To the eastward, Mr. Blanford records the present species from Persia, but says that he 

 only saw it at Shiraz Lake, where several pairs were apparently breeding. Mr. A. O. Hume, 

 who met with it in Sindh, states (Stray Feathers, i. p. 248) that it was " very common about 

 the larger inland lakes ; at the Muncher lake especially " he " noticed it in large parties; 

 certainly a hundred in a single flock." Dr. Jerdon writes (B. of India, ii. p. 706) that it is 

 " not a very common bird in India, but is met with occasionally throughout the whole country, 

 frequenting the edges of tanks and rivers, generally in small flocks." Colonel Tickell, however, 

 speaks of it as being an exceedingly rare bird, and says that he never met with it except in the 

 tideway of the Hoogly below Calcutta, or in the mouths of the Roopnarain, near the sea, which 

 statement, however, scarcely agrees with what Mr. Hume and others write ; for Captain J. Hayes 

 Lloyd states (Ibis, 1873, p. 417) that it is "very abundant on the Null (Kattiawar) and other 

 sheets of water." Mr. R. Adam, who met with it on the Sambhur lake, states, however (Stray 

 Feathers, i. p. 397), that it is rare there; during the last rains he obtained four specimens from 

 the Sambhur side, and one from the Nawa Goodha side of the lake. It has been met with as 

 far south as Ceylon, where Mr. E. L. Layard records two instances of its occurrence near Jaffna. 



According to Dr. Severtzoff it breeds in Turkestan ; and it is also met with in Siberia. 

 Dr. G. Radde states (Reis. im Slid, von Ost-Sib. ii. p. 326) that he can from personal observation 



