228 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



FAMILY XXXVI. OYSTER-CATCHERS (H^MATOPODID^) 



The birds of this small family (10 species) are found only on 



the outer beaches of ocean shores, searching for the 



shellfish left by the receding tide. They are. large 



birds, with stout, long, hard bills,^ stout, rather 



' short legs, and pointed tails. Our one species has 



but three toes. ' 



1. American Oyster-catcher (286. Hcnndtojvis pnUi<)ti(s). — A 

 large, .shy, rather solitary, long, red-billed, three-toed, seacoast 

 bird, with black head, neck, and back, and white belly. There 

 is a large, white patch on the center of the wing and also 



on the rump. When 

 disturbed, it gives a 

 shrill cry and flies 

 to a great distance. 

 It runs swiftly or 

 walks in a stately 

 manner, and feeds 

 mainly on bivalves, 

 which it opens with 

 its long, strong bill. 



^^^^^^'^ Length, 17-21 ; wing, 



American Oyster-catcher 10^ (10-12); tail, 4i ; 



tarsu.-*, 2J ; culmen, 3-4. 

 Seacoast of America, from New Jersey to Patagonia (occasionally north 

 to JLassachusetts) ; breeding along the Southern States, and wintering 

 south of the United States. 



FAMILY XXXVII. TURNSTONES, ETC. (APHRIZIDjE) 



A small family (4 species^ of seacoast birds of rather small 

 size, short, hard bill, and (for shore birds) short legs. 



1. Turnstone (283. Are)id,ria intirpres). — A common, shore- 

 living, stout-billed, brightly marked bird, with a back marked 

 like calico, and a white belly with a black breast patch. The 

 center of the back, as seen while flying with scapulars separated, 



