255 
THE AVOSET. 
Recurmrostra avoselta, Linnaeus. 
PLATE XXI. 
Reeurvirostra avocetta, Linn, — L’avocette, Buff — Avocette 
d nuque noire,, Temm Ayosefc or Scooping Avoset of 
British authors. 
This bird, also of a very remarkable form, is of more 
frequent occurrence with us than the last, breeding 
in some of the fenny districts. Their stations, how- 
ever, are fast decreasing, and the bird in England 
may be considered as becoming more rare year after 
year. Mr. Yarrell states, that some years since, 
more than twenty specimens were seen in Leaden- 
hall market within one month ; but, lately, they 
have been much less frequent, the last heard of 
being in the spring of 1837.* In Scotland, we 
have the authority of Mr. Selby and Dr. Fleming + 
for saying, that they sometimes occur ; but we have 
never had the satisfaction of meeting with it. By 
Mr. Thompson, it is said to be a rare visitant in 
Ireland. In Europe it is found on various parts of 
* Yarrell, ii. p. £56. 
+ British Animals, p. 101. “ Resident in England, astrag- 
gler in Scotland.” 
