The old name of himantopus is taken from Pliny; and, by an
awkward metaphor, implies that the legs are as slender and pliant
as if cut out of a thong of leather. Neither Willughby nor Ray, in all
their curious researches either at home or abroad, ever saw this
bird. Mr. Pennant never met with it in all Great Britain, but
observed it often in the cabinets of the curious at Paris. Hasselquist
says that it migrates to Egypt in the autumn: and a most accurate
observer of nature has assured me that he has found it on the banks
of the streams in Andalusia.
Our writers record it to have been found only twice in Great
Britain. From all these relations it plainly appears that these long-
legged plovers are birds of South Europe, and rarely visit our
island; and when they do are wanderers and stragglers, and
impelled to make so distant and northern an excursion from
motives or accidents for which we are not able to account. One
thing may fairly be deduced, that these birds come over to us from
the continent, since nobody can suppose that a species not noticed
once in an age, and of such a remarkable make, can constantly
breed unobserved in this kingdom.
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