A V O S E T. 295 



traces of which may be obferved in the places where they frequent. 

 Often feen to wade, as far as their legs will let them, into the wa- 

 ter, and will alfo occafionally fwim, but always clofe to the edge 

 of the fhore. 



It is alfo feen in various parts of the continent of Europe, Found 

 in RiiJJia, Denmark, and Sweden*, but not in plenty; alfo met 

 with in Sibiria, but more frequent about the fait lakes of the Tar- 

 tarian Defart, and about the Cafpian Sea-f. Found on the coafts 

 of Picardy in France, in April and. November; alfo at Orleans, but 

 very rare. Jn breeding time in fuch plenty on the coafts of Bas 

 Poitlou, that the peafants take their eggs by thoufands in order to 

 feaft on them J. We have not been able to trace thefe birds further 

 fouth in Europe than Italy, where they have been long noticed as 

 inhabitants. 



Avofetta, Damp. Voy. Hi. pi. in p. 123. fig. 3. ?# 



American Avofet, Am. Zool. N° 421. pi. 21. AMERICAN AV. 



Lev. Muf. p L> xar _ 



HpH I S is larger than the Scooping Avofet, and exceeds it fome- . Description. 



what in length ; being in height, as it ftands, from the head 

 to the ground, fourteen inches. The bill is made like that of the 

 common fpecies ||, the colour black: the forehead dufky white : 



• Chiefly in the ifle of Qeland, and in Gothland. — Faun. Suee. 



■}• Arcl. Zoo!. % Salem. Orn. p. 359. 



|| The fpecimen in the Leverian Mufeum has the bill three inches and three 

 quarters in length, but is blunt at the end, as if it had been broken off"; and 

 in another, in the colJe&ion of Mr. Boiiam, we obferved the fame circumftance, 

 with a ftronger appearance of being injured ; from which we judge that thefe 

 birds had originally the bills ending in a point, as in the common Avofet. — 

 Dampier's figure is fcarce worth bringing as a voucher, being a very bad one ; 

 but in that the bill is pointed at the end. 



8 the 



