BRITISH nih'DS' XESTS. 183 



Time. — March, April, May, June, July, August, 

 September, October, and even later. 



BeuKii-Ji-.s. — Eesident. Notes: tn-whit to-whoo ; 

 when pleased the bird utters a low kind of whistle, 

 and when angered snaps its beak with considerable 

 sound. Local and other names : Brown Owl, Wood 

 Owl, Jiiniy Oolert, Hoot Owl, Jenny Howlet, Ivy 

 Owl. Comes forth at night and hoots w^eirdly. 

 Tl]is bird is said to stand the light of day worse 

 than any other member of the Owl family, although 

 when fishing in rocky ravines I have seen it 

 abroad on dull days at noon. A close sitter. 



OWL, WOOD. Hee Owl, Tawny. 



OYSTER-CATCHER. 



Description of Fdrent Bii'da. — Length about 

 sixteen inches. Bill long, straight, and orange- 

 coloured. It is shaped like a vertical wedge, a form 

 which renders it eminently useful for dislodging 

 limpets and other bivalves fi'om rocks. Irides 

 crimson. Head, neck, back, and wings black, with 

 the exception of a white, broad, slanting bar across 

 the last. Rump and upper half of tail white, lower 

 half black. There is a small patch of white under 

 the eye. Throat and upper part of breast black. 

 Lower breast and all the under parts of the bod}^ 

 white. Legs and toes purple ; claws black. In 

 the early spring the bird wears a white collar or 

 gorget on the neck, but this disappears as the 

 season advances. 



Situation and Locality. — On the ground, amongst 

 the shingle and sand of the sea - shore. Our 



