THE OYSTERCATCHER 189 



have most of the markings in an irregular band round the 

 larger end. 



The Oystercatcher is never seen to rise from her nest ; she 

 is too watchful and wary thus to betray its whereabouts, and 

 takes wing long before you are on the breeding ground. The 

 ever-watchful male bird is somewhere about the locality of 

 the nest, always within call, and never fails to warn his mate 

 of an intruder's approach. Suddenly the two birds rise piping 

 into the air and career wildly about, uttering their loud note, 

 which may be heard for a long distance along the shore 

 and across the water. Several pairs generally nest near 

 together, and when they are all on wing at once and calling 

 lustily the noise is almost deafening. The wary birds know 

 full well that their eggs are clothed in protective tints and 

 require none of their protection. It is very noteworthy how 

 the eggs resemble the pebbles and shells and shingle, and 

 require a most diligent search to discover them. When the 

 young are hatched they are of equally protective tints, and at 

 the approach of danger hide amongst the stones, where it is 

 almost impossible to find them. When the birds have young 

 they become even more demonstrative, and swoop and scream 

 round your head in utter anguish. If the first clutch of eggs 

 are taken, the Oystercatcher lays more, but in no case is a 

 second brood reared in the year. 



In autumn the broods of young Oystercatchers and their 

 parents keep in company and sometimes join similar parties, 

 but I never see them in very large flocks. They do not 

 wander much from home ; but in October many birds of this 

 species visit our low-lying coasts from more northern lands, 

 and they are often caught in the flight-nets. 



