173 
AYOCET. 
* 
SCOQPER. COMMON AYOCET. SCOOPING AYOCET. YELPER, 
CROOKED-BILL. COBBLER*S-AWL DIJCK. 
Recurvirostra avocetta, 
“ avosetta , 
Fleming. Selby. 
Pennant. Montagu. 
Recurvirostra. Recurvus — Crooked—bent. 
Rostrum— The beak of a bird. Avocetta —.? 
This bird, unique, as far at least as our country is con¬ 
cerned, in the singularity of its appearance, is in Europe 
plentiful in the north of Holland and on the shores of the 
Baltic, and also occurs in Sweden, Russia, Holstein, Hungary, 
Switzerland, Spain, France, and Italy. In Africa it has been 
found from Egypt to the Cape of Good Hope; and in Asia 
—in Siberia, Asia Minor, and India; the neighbourhood of 
the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, and in Tartary. 
In Yorkshire, two were formerly obtained on Skip with 
Common, near Selby; several have been met with near Spurn 
Point, and on other parts of the coast, and the banks of the 
Humber. 
Sir Thomas Browne has recorded that Avocets were common 
in his time in Norfolk; and within the present generation, 
as many as twenty are said to have been received within one 
month of one year, in Leadenhall market. They used to 
frequent the marshes at Winterton; a pair were taken at 
Yarmouth, the 22nd. of April, 1852; two also in the month 
of June, 1851. It used to be more common there on 
Breydon, but has of late years become more rare. It has 
been known to breed at Salthouse. One was obtained in the 
spring of 1837. They were formerly also met with on the 
Durham coast. A specimen was shot some years since at 
