Recurvirostra. birds. PRESSIROSTRES. 
101 
with ferruginous. A white band across the wings and the two middle tail- ^ 
feathers. Beneath white, with cinereous spots on the flanks. Female has 
the reddish colour mixed with cinereous. — Nest of grass, on the margin of 
lakes. Eggs olive, with crowded black spots. The young have the plumage, 
above, brownish-black, the feathers on the back with a reddish margin ; be- 
neath grejish-white, with a tinge of yellow on the neck. The old birds in 
winter are said to resemble the young. This species breeds in several small 
lakes in Orkney, where it is called Water-Snipe. It is rare in other districts, 
and usually appears only as a winter visitant. 
Gen. LXV. RECURVIROSTRA. Avoset.— Bill recur- 
ved ; connecting membrane of the toes reaching nearly to 
the extremity. 
135. R. Avocetta. Scooping Avoset. — Crown, hind neck, 
back and quills black ; rest of the plumage white. 
Will. Orn. 240. Linn. Syst. i. 256. Penn. Brit. Zool. ii. 504. Temm. 
Orn. ii. 590 — £, Butterflip, Scooper, Yelper, Picarini, Crooked-belly, 
Cobler’s-awl ; JF, Pig mynawd — llesident in England, a straggler in 
Scotland. 
Length 18, breadth 30 inches; weight 13 ounces. Bill black, slender, 
flexible. Legs bluish-grey. Irides reddish-brown. Outer scapulars and 
middle covers of the wings black ; ridge of the wings and greater covers 
white. Female similar — Nest in a small hole on the drier parts of exten- 
sive marshes. Eggs 2, olive-grey, with black spots. In the young^ the black 
has a brownish tinge, and the scapular feathers have a reddish border. — After 
the breeding. season, this bird retires from the fens, and assembles in flocks of 
six or seven, frequenting the sea- shore during the winter season. 
Gen. LXVI. NUMENIUS. Curlew.— Face feathered. 
Nasal groove extending three-fourths of the length of the 
bill. Nostrils linear. Hind toe touching the earth. The 
first quill longest. 
136. N. ar quota. Common Curlew. — Plumage greyish- white, 
with brown streaks : scapulars black, with brown margins. 
Will. Orn. 216. Sihb. Scot. 18 — Scolopax arq. Linn. Syst. i. 242. Penn. 
Brit. Zool. ii. 429 — Num. arq. Temm. Orn. ii. 603 (S', Whaap, Stock 
Whaap; W, Gylfinhir — Common. . 
Length 24, breadth 42 inches ; weight 37 ounces. Bill black, 6 or 7 inches 
long. Legs lead-coloured. Breast, belly and rump white, with oblong 
dusky spots and bars. Tail of 12 feathers, grey, with brown bands. Female 
with more grey and legs brown — Nest in unfrequented heaths and marshes, 
of dried stalks. Eggs 5, olive, with brown spots. Young leave the nest up- 
on being hatched : have the bill short, and the plumage like the female.— 
The curlew soon leaves the breeding-ground, and, during the winter season, 
frequents the sea-shore, and damp grounds in the neighbourhood. 
137. N. PJieopus. Whimbrel Curlew. — Plumage greyish- 
white, with brown streaks ; scapulars brown, with pale edges ; 
longitudinal brown band on each side of the crown. 
Arquata minor. Will. Orn. — Scol. Pheop. Linn. Syst. i. 243, Penn. Brit. 
