PIED OYSTER-CATCHER. 157 



The Oyster-catcher is a permanent resident, and does not 

 seem to extend its flight to a great distance, although after 

 the breeding season is over it collects into flocks, and in 

 winter betakes itself to the estuaries and extended open 

 coasts. In April the flocks break up, and the individuals 

 disperse in pairs. Along the eastern coast of Scotland, few 

 breed on the rocky headlands, the greater number betaking 

 themselves to the rivers, on the stony or sandy beaches of 

 which they form their nests. On the Tay and its tributaries, 

 the Tumel, and the Garry, as far up as Blair Atholl ; on the 

 South and North Esks ; the Dee, the Don, the Spey, and the 

 Findhorn, as well as many smaller streams, they are seen 

 dispersed from March through the summer and part of 

 autumn. They ascend the Dee as far as Mar Lodge, and 

 the Spey as far as Granton. Once, on a botanical excursion 

 with my class, I found a nest with eggs by the Dee, in the 

 parish of Petercultir. It was merely a slight hollow among 

 the pebbles of the beach. 



The eggs, like those of the smaller gulls, are good ; but 

 the flesh, which is very dark, and abounds in fat of a 

 yellowish colour, has a disagreeable smell, and rather un- 

 pleasant taste. In winter these birds become extremely 

 plump, the skin, the interstices of the muscles, and the in- 

 ternal organs being then often loaded with fat. They are 

 frequently seen in the markets, and are generally sold at two 

 shillings the pair in Edinburgh ; but they are greatly inferior 

 to the Curlew and Golden Plover as an article of food. 



On the shores of the Hebrides, where I have often found 

 it, the nest is generally a slight hollow among the gravel or 

 pebbles above high-water mark; but when a rocky place 

 has been chosen, a few straws and fragments of plants, 

 sometimes small stones and bits of shells, are brought 

 together. The favourite breeding places are headlands and 

 rocky islands, but the nests are sometimes found on sandy 

 beaches. The eggs are generally three, sometimes four, 

 placed with the smaller ends together. They are of a regular 

 oval form, somewhat narrowed towards the smaller extre- 

 mity, two inches long, an inch and seven-twelfths broad, of 

 a pale greyish-yellow colour, marked all over with dots, 



