LJM1COLÆ, CHASAPRIIDÆ. T h e Oy s t e r -O a tg h eR' isr well known on the shores of
Hematopus OBTRALEbtfs, Linnaeus.*
THE OYSTER-CATCHER,
OR SEA-PIE.
Scematopus' o&irgXiquS'^ ~
n^MAToyps, L in n a u s ^ ^B e ^ k longer than the,head,'straight, strong, thje
point, much compressed, forming a w,edge ;, ..culmen of the anterior part slightly
convex'; npper mandible with ab ro ad lateral grooye, extending o n e -h ^ |^ £
length of the b ill; mandibles nearly equal'-in'size and length' with^hf^infends
truncated. a Nostrils basal, lateral, Siifear, pierced, in the inembrane _of.' the
mandibular groove., -Legs-of-moderate lengthy naked for’a shoff. space .abqye,th^
tarsal joiftt; tarsi strong. ^ FepJ; ^ ith three toesoDlvj all directed forward,
united at their base by^a membrane; claws strong, broad,T mSfb
pointed.
* Hwmatopus Oslralegus, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. Ed. .1-2, i. p. 257 (ldWh" V
Great Britain and Ireland. It appears to prefer sandy bays
and wide inlets bounded with banks of shingle, as favourable
localities for theVproduction of the various, mollusca upon
which ^principally subsists. The vertical edge ©f its truncated,
wedge-like beak, seems admirably adapted for insertion
between the. (two portions of a bivalve shell, and limpets are
detached from the surface of a rock with ease ; after which
the animal is scooped out as if with a knife. Its food consists
of the mollusca generally, worms, and marine insects.
The Oyster-catcher is a handsome bird when .seen oh the
wing, from the well-marked contrast and the purity, of the
black and white colours of I ts plumage: whence-its name
SeàïPië; an. equally- appropriate name, i s -, that* $£-‘ Mussel-
Picker,’ and in-Sussex it is known as the / Qliye>’ It runs
with rapidity, and may frequently be observed to swim short
distances • when. searching for-its food,- and WoUndëd birds
haveibeen known to -dive« -*/. Hfg Z51 tiji? iîf
^ Although principally found on or near the coast, it is a
mistake to Suppose that ih!e,Oy ster ^catcher does not straggle
inland, for examples have.been killed even in the Midland
Counties. In Scotland many pairs breed on the Don, the
Tay, the Spey, the. - Findhorn, and on some inland lochs
twenty thirty miles from the sea.- v.
m The eggs -are'deposited above high-watef mark oh thé
shingly heach, or - on the narrow ledges a t -rocky islets-,, or,
again, amongst-the'sand-hills : they are frequently laid on-a
pavement. of-: small fragments of - shells,; or on a tussock of
sea-pink. Mr.?C. M. Adamson'says that h©..once found
them in a meadow Æ some distance from the Sea.; Mr.
îiMlétt mentions a dutch laid in a cavity, oh the top of. a
felled pine-tfeë.near the Troüdhjems fiord; and the Editor
has* found them occupying* the- pjeviouSteobbed nest ©f
a Herring-Gull. Tkeir number is usually three, and on the
rare, occasions where the Editor has found jgptethree öf
them invariably exhibited a family likeness, whilst th&fourth
was different. Theyarê of a yellowish stene-èolour; jo tted
and scrolled with ash-grey and dark/brown ; and measure