THE WADING BIRDS OF NORTH CHINA. 149 



A very handsome wading bird that is to be found in North China, 

 though it keeps to the coastal regions, is the Japanese oyster catcher, 

 (Hoematopus osculans). This bird is somewhat larger than a pigeon, 

 and is conspicuously, coloured, having the head, neck and back of a 

 jet black, wings and tail black and white, and breast and belly pure 

 white. The legs are of a dull red, the long beak orange. It derives 

 its name from the fact that it feeds upon bi-valve molluscs, which it 

 prises open with its bill. 



In the rock-strewn valleys of the mountainous regions of the 

 interior, another closely allied form exists, namely, the ibis-billed 

 oyster catcher (Ibidorhynchus siruthcrsi). This interesting bird forms 

 a connecting link between the oyster-catchers and our next genus, the 

 curlews. In colour, it is of a delicate mauve-grey above, with 

 white breast and belly. It has a black face, with a long crimson bill, 

 shaped like that of the ibis; hence its name. 



The legs are of a pretty mauve colour, and there is a broad black 

 band across the chest. These birds, in their native haunts, so exactly 

 resemble the grey stones and boulders, that it is almost impossible to 

 detect them. When they fly, they utter a plaintive call like that of 

 the lapwing. They are never seen in marshy country, and are only 

 partially migratory. 



Every one is familiar with the curlew {Numenius arguatus) and 

 the whimbrel [N. variegatiis). These birds are very much alike in 

 plumage and appearance, the whimbrel being but a small curlew. 

 They are very good eating and offer good sporting shots, so that few 

 sportsmen refuse to take them when the chance offers. 



The grey phalarope (Phalaropus fulcarius) is another bird that may 

 be seen in the marshes, though only during the migrations. It may 

 be recognized by its lobed feet, not unlike those of the coot. It is 

 about the size of the golden plover, and is remarkable for the seasonal 

 change in its plumage. In winter it is grey above, white beneath; in 

 summer, dark grey-brown above and chestnut beneath. When in 

 summer plumage it may easily be confused with the dotterel, which it 

 very much resembles in shape and in flight. It has a short beak like 

 the plovers. 



I have never come across the ruff {Totanus pugnax), though we 

 certainly have the two red-shanks (T. calidris and T. fuscxis) and the 

 common sand-piper (T. h^jpoleucos), all members of the same genus, 

 besides a great many others. The red-shank is somewhat larger than 

 the snipe, and may easily be recognized by its long, conspicuously orange 

 legs, its fine white breast, and speckled brown upper parts. 



