THE AVOCETS. 
185 
hemispheres. In addition to the up-turned bill, the lower 
edge of which is flattened, the Avocets are distinguished by 
the presence of a hind-toe, and by having the base of the toes 
distinctly united by a web. 
I. THE AVOCET. RECURVIRO.STRA AVOCETTA. 
I 
Recurvirostra avocetta, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 256 (1766); 
Macgill. Brit. B. iv. p. 306 (1852); Dresser, B. Eur. vii. 
p. 577, pi. 534 (1875); B. O. U. List Brit. B. p. 162 
(1883); Saunders, ed. Yarrell’s Brit.B. hi. p. 299(1883); 
id. Man. Brit B. p. 545 (1889); Lilford, Col. Fig. Brit. 
B. part xiii. (1890); Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxiv. 
p. 326 (1896) 
Himantopus avocetta, Seebohm, Hist. Brit. B. iii. p. 74 (1885;. 
(^Plate LX XX II.) 
Adult Male.— General colour above varied with black and 
white ; the upper part of the mantle and scapulars black ; the 
rest of the back, rump, and upper tail-coverts pure white, as 
also the outer scapulars, which form a white band on each 
side of the lateral black bands on the back ; small wing-coverts 
along the carpal edge of the wing white; median coverts black, 
forming a broad band down the wing; bastard-wing and 
greater coverts pure white, primary-coverts white with black 
tips, the inner ones pure white ; outer primaries blackish with 
white at the base, the inner ones pure white as well as the 
secondaries, the innermost secondaries blackish ; tail-feathers 
pale ashy-grey, the outermost feathers whitish ; crown of head 
black, extending in a broad line to the hind-neck ; lores also 
blackish, and also the feathers below the eye ; sides of face and 
ear-coverts, sides of neck, and entire under surface of body, in- 
cluding the under wing-coverts, axillaries, and quill-lining, pure 
white ; bill black ; feet and toes pale blue ; iris reddish-brown. 
Total length, 16-3 inches; culmen, 3-3; wing, 8-6; tail, 3; 
tarsus, 3. 
Adult Female. — Similar to the male in plumage. Total length, 
17 inches ; culmen, 3'i5 ; wing, 9; tail, 3-55 ; tarsus, 3-3. 
Winter Plumage. — Both the old and young birds appear tc 
have the white of the upper-parts sullied with grey, and the 
