348 CHARADRIIDZ. 
referring the Tres Marias birds to H. palliatus, which he considers to be “ resident 
along the coast and adjacent islands south of Lower California,” notices that some 
specimens shot out of the same flock were typical H. palliatus, while others had 
the upper part of the breast mixed with black and white as in H. frazari. He 
thinks also that “a series from the southern end of California will probably show 
intergradation between H. pailiatus and H. frazari”*. Several of the examples 
in the British Museum also appear to us to be intermediate. Salvin noticed 
Oyster-catchers at Nagualate on the Pacific coast of Guatemala, which were probably 
of the present species, and he procured a specimen of the true H. palliatus at 
Chiapam. 
The habits of H. palliatus are similar to those of H. ostralegus, but it appears to be 
more strictly a bird of the sea-shore, and does not, like the latter, ascend rivers for 
the purposes of nesting. It is shy and wary, and utters a piping note when alarmed 
or calling to its mates at night. During the season of migration it occurs in flocks, 
and the birds perform some pretty aerial evolutions in company. No nest is made, 
three eggs of a creamy-buff colour, blotched with dark brown, being deposited in a 
small depression in the sand, or among stones, their resemblance to which protects 
them from observation», 
2. Hematopus frazari. 
Hematopus frazari, Brewster, Auk, v. p. 84'; Townsend, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xiii. p. 188°; 
Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiv. p. 117°; A. O. U. Check-list N. Amer. Birds, 2nd ed. 
p. 105°; Elhot, N. Amer. Shore-Birds, p. 210, cum fig.’ ; Nelson, N. Amer. Fauna, no. 14, 
p. 34°. 
H. palliato similis, sed saturatior, et pectore summo albo, nigro maculato distinguendus. Long. tota circa 17:0, 
ale 10-4, caudex 38, culm, 3:15, tarsi 2°15. (Descr. femine adult ex Ins. “Tres Marias” dictis. Mus. 
nostr.) 
Hab. Lower Catirornia, both coasts, north to Los Coronados Islands 4, Carmen I.}.— 
W. Mexico, Tres Marias Is. (Forrer®, Nelson °).—PrEru ®, Cute 3. 
This race of H. palliatus is confined to the western coast of America. It was origi- 
nally described by Mr. Brewster from Carmen Island in the Gulf of California. 
In outward appearance H. frazari is similar to H. palliatus, but is of a much darker 
brown on the back, and the inner primaries show no white. The fore-neck is white, 
mottled with black spots, and the black throat is not so sharply defined. A specimen 
from the Zacatula Kiver, referred to H. palliatus, though agreeing with the typical 
form as regards the wing-marking, is darker above and has a mottled chest as in 
H. frazari, and is apparently intermediate between the two. 
