12 WADING BIRDS. 



tory voyages, but live in pairs during the season of reproduction ; 

 making their nests among the herbage, or in the saline and marshy 

 meadows contiguous to the ocean. They run and fly swiftly, and 

 utter a sharp and echoing cry. The moult is double ; namely in 

 spring and autumn, but the color of the plumage scarcely undergoes 

 any change ; the only well-marked diiference in their livery is in 

 the absence or presence of a white gorget on the throat. The sexes 

 are likewise externally alike. 



PIED OYSTER-CATCHER. 



(Hcematopus ostralegus, Lin. Wilson, viii. p. 15, pi. 64. fig. 2. [Sum- 

 mer Dress.] Phil. Museum, No. 4258.) 



Sp. Charact. — Blackish; rump, band on the wing, base of the 

 quills, tail feathers, and from below the breast, white ; the bill and 

 feet red. — Summer dress, glossy black ; in icinter a white crescent 

 on the throat. — In the Voting the back and wings are brownish 

 black, and the bill and feet dusky. 



The Oyster-Catcher is common to the north of both con- 

 tinents, breeding in Great Britain, France, Norway, and 

 aloncr the borders of the Caspian ; it is even seen as far 

 south as Senegal in Africa. But though common in New 

 Jersey and the southern states as far as the Bahamas, where 

 they likewise pass the period of reproduction ; they are but 

 rarely seen to visit the coast of Massachusetts. In Europe, 

 they are said to retire somewhat inland at the approach of 

 winter ; in the United States they are seen at this season 

 along the coasts which lie south of Cape Hatteras, on the 

 borders of the Atlantic. They return to New Jersey by 

 the close of April, and, frequenting the sandy sea beach, 

 are now seen in small parties of two or three pairs together. 

 They are generally wild and difficult to approach, except in 

 the breeding season, and at times may be seen walking 

 erectly and watchfully along the shore, now and then prob- 

 ing the sand in quest of marine worms, molusca, and minute 



