174 
COMMON AVOSET. 
white, with the exception of the top of the head, the 
hinder part of the neck, the greater and lesser sca- 
pulars, the wing-coverts, and the quills, which are 
deep black : its beak is also black : its irides are 
reddish-brown : its legs are ashy-blue. The young 
previous to moulting resemble the old in the disposi- 
tion of their colours, but the parts that become black 
in them are strongly shaded with brown in these : 
the brown-black on the head does not extend beyond 
the occiput j that of the scapulars is edged with red, 
and all the feathers of these parts, and tipped with a 
small border of red-ash : the legs are ash-coloured : 
the tarsi are thick and channelled before. After the 
first autumnal moult, and throughout the first year, 
the outer edges of the scapular feathers are tinged 
with reddish. 
Native of the greater portion of Europe, but scarce 
towards the north. Found also in Siberia, and in 
profusion on the borders of the salt lakes of Tartary, 
and of the Caspian Sea. Not uncommon in various 
parts of England, breeding in the fens of Lincoln- 
shire and Cambridgeshire, and on Romney Marsh, 
Kent, in great plenty. They lay two eggs about the 
size of those of a pigeon, white, tinged with green, 
and marked with large black spots : they are said to 
be very tenacious of their young : when the female is 
frightened off her nest, she counterfeits lameness ; 
and when a flock is disturbed, they fly round in re- 
peated circles, making a shrill noise, resembling the 
word txiit twice repeated. In winter they assemble 
in small flocks of six or seven, frequenting the shores, 
particularly at the mouths of large rivers or inlets of 
