250 
Mr. J. E. Harting on rare 
Harbour, Angra, Pequena, &c.; but it usually disappears 
from Damara Land during the breeding-season, though I have 
little doubt that a few pairs remain to nest there, as I 
have occasionally met with very young birds during the dry 
time of the year." Mr. E. L. Layard, writing in 1867, 
included this Avocet in his f Birds of South Africa ’ as oc¬ 
curring periodically in the colony in small flocks, and men¬ 
tioned Zeekoe Bay, on the Simon's Town and Wynberg road, 
Neks Poort and Beaufort as localities where numerous spe¬ 
cimens had been procured, among them several in very young 
plumage; but at that date he had not heard of their breeding 
there. That they do so, however, there is now no doubt; for 
he has since obtained the eggs there, and one of these, with 
which he kindly presented me, is now in my collection*. 
Were I to attempt to indicate in detail all the localities 
in which the Avocet has been met with in Asia, I might say 
as much for that vast continent as has been said for Africa; 
but I should perhaps only weary my readers, and occupy 
too much valuable space. Suffice it to say that, according 
to Pallas, Badde, and other well-known authorities, the 
so-called European Avocet is met with in Siberia, Tartary, 
and Mongolia. Mr. Blanford shot a specimen in June at the 
Lake of Shiraz, but considers it rather a rare bird in Persia. 
Major St. John also procured specimens at the Lake of 
Shiraz and at the Lake of Dastarjin. Canon Tristram found 
it in Palestine; and the late Mr. J. K. Lord noticed it in 
Arabia. 
In India there seems to be some difference of opinion as 
to its distribution in that country. Jerdon and Blyth both 
considered that it is not a common bird there, although the 
former naturalist has remarked / Birds of India/ iii. p. 706) 
that it is “ met with occasionally throughout the whole country , 
* This is not the only instance of a species breeding in what is generally 
termed its “ winter-quarters.” Some interesting notes on this subject, in 
which other species are named, by Mr. Layard, Dr. Bree, and the late Mr. 
Blyth, will be found in the i Field ’ for 1871. See also Burgess, P. Z. S. 
1855, p. 23; P.Z. S. 1863, p. 288; Sharpe and Dresser, P. Z. S. 1870. 
p. 244 : and Saunders, Ibis, 1871, p. 38b' 
