H.EMATOPUS. OYSTER-CATCHER. 151 



Cinclus. The claws also are at first acute, and become 

 blunted by use. 



The species greatly resemble each other in form and size. 

 The bill in all is of a vermilion or orange tint, and the 

 colours of the plumage are either black and white, or the 

 former alone. One or other of the species is found in almost 

 every known country. They reside on the sea-shore, and 

 live on mollusca and Crustacea. " I believe," Mr. Gould 

 remarks, " that there is no country of the world of any 

 extent, the shores of which are not inhabited by one or other 

 of the numerous species of this genus ; but it would seem 

 that all those which exist in the southern hemisphere are 

 totally different from those of the northern." 



In Britain, indeed in Europe, there occurs only one 

 species, which is easily distinguished from that of America, 

 although they were confounded by Wilson. 



1. H. Ostralegus. The head, neck, and back deep greenish- 

 black ; the throat often half-ringed with white. Europe. 



2. H. palliatus. The head and neck brownish-black; the 

 back greyish-brown. America. 



The name Haematopus, or Bloody-foot, given to this 

 genus by Linnaeus, was sufficiently appropriate so long as 

 only the European species was known ; but when it is con- 

 sidered that another has the feet flesh-colour, a second pink, 

 and a third white, the generic name becomes quite inappli- 

 cable. It might be expedient, therefore, to follow Lesson in 

 having recourse to Brisson's name Ostralega, although, as 

 the former author observes, " it is not itself happily chosen, 

 for although several Oyster-catchers live on shell-fish, they 

 do not eat oysters. Ostralegus, however, signifies merely 

 shell-gatherer, and in so far is correct enough, although not 

 distinctive, for many birds are shell-gatherers. 



