400 CHARADRID.1i:. 



in the neighbourhood of large inland lakes. They arrive 

 on onr shores early in autumn, keeping together in small 

 flocks, or joining the company of Dunlins, or Einged 

 Plovers. In spring they withdraw to high latitudes, 

 where they breed ; they are not, however, long absent. 

 Yarrell mentions his having obtained specimens as late as 

 April and June, and I have myself obtained them as early 

 as the end of July, having shot at Hunstanton, on the 

 coast of Norfolk, several young birds of the year, on the 

 23rd of that month ; and on another occasion I obtained 

 a specimen on the sands of Abergele, in l!^orth Wales, in 

 August. This leaves so very short a time for incubation 

 and the fledging of the young, that it is probable that 

 a few birds, at least, remain to breed in this country, 

 or do not retire very far north. Little is known of their 

 habits during the season of incubation, but they are said 

 to make their nests in the marshes, of grass, and to lay 

 four eggs. 



Like many other shore birds, they have an extensive 

 geographical range, and are found in all latitudes, both in 

 the eastern and western hemisphere. 



THE OYSTER CATCHEE, OE SEA PIE. 



HiEMATOPUS OSTRALEGUS. 



Head, nape, upper part of the breast, back, wings, and extremity of the tail, 

 deep black ; collar, rim, base of tail-feathers and primaries, a transverse band 

 on the wings, and all the lower parts, white ; bill and orbits bright orange ; 

 irides crimson ; feet purplish red. In summer the white collar is absent. 

 Young birds have the black feathers mottled with brown ; the white dingy ; 

 bill and orbits dusky ; irides brown ; feet livid grey. Length seventeen inches. 

 Eggs olive-brown, blotched and spotted with ash-grey and black. 



Some years since, while on a visit to some friends 

 who resided near Loch Gilphead, in Scotland, as I was 

 one day driving round the shores of the loch, when, it 

 being nearly high water, a few ridges of mud alone 

 were visible, I observed here and there small parties 



