144 
SCOOPING AVOSET. = Cr Ass II, 
distinguished from all others, by the singular 
form of its bill; which is three inches and a half 
long, slender, compressed, very thin, flexible, 
and of a substance like whalebone; and contrary 
to the bills of other birds, is turned up for nearly 
half its length. The nostrils are narrow and 
pervious; the tongue short; the head very 
round; that, and half the hind part of the neck 
black; but above and beneath each eye is a 
small white spot; the cheeks, and whole under 
side of the body from chin to tail, is of a pure 
white; the back, exterior scapular feathers, the 
coverts on the ridge of the wings, and some of 
the lesser quil feathers, are of the same color; 
the other coverts, and the exterior sides and 
ends of the greater quil feathers, are black; the 
tail consists of twelve white feathers; the legs 
are very long, of a fine pale blue color, and 
naked far above thé knees; the webs dusky, 
and deeply indented; the back toe extremely 
small. . 
These birds are frequent in the winter on the 
shores of this kngdom; in Gloucestershire™, at 
the Severn’s Mouth ; and sometimes on the lakes 
of Shropshire. We have seen them in considet- 
able numbers in the breeding season near Moss- 
* Thirty years ago they were not uncommon in that county, 
but none have been observed for several years past. Eb. 
ane 
