560 OYSTER-CATCHER. 



and the head of the Adriatic. Throughout the greater part of the 

 Mediterranean basin, however, it is principally a migrant ; but it 

 breeds on many of the inland waters of the Continent, and along 

 the large rivers of Russia, as well as on the shores of the Black and 

 Caspian Seas, whence it retreats in winter. In Asia the Arctic 

 circle forms its northern summer-limit, while Burma, Ceylon, India, 

 Baluchistan and Persia are visited during cold weather ; migration 

 extending down the Red Sea to Mozambique on the east side of 

 Africa, and to Senegambia on the west. There are several other 

 members of this cosmopolitan genus. 



The eggs, usually 3, but sometimes 4 in number, are yellowish 

 stone-colour, spotted and scrolled with ash-grey and dark brown : 

 measurements 2-2 by 1-5 in. They are commonly laid on shingle 

 or among sand-hills, and frequently on a pavement of small frag- 

 ments of shells or on a tussock of sea-pink growing upon a narrow 

 ledge of rock ; but I have seen them on the summit of a lofty 

 ' stack,' and also in the previously robbed nest of a Herring-Gull, 

 while they have been found in meadows far from the sea, and Prof. 

 Collett mentions a clutch laid in a cavity at the top of a felled pine. 

 They are sometimes laid by the third week in April, while incuba- 

 tion becomes general in the second half of May, and lasts three 

 weeks. On rocky coasts each pair inhabits a certain district, but on 

 flat shores considerable numbers may be found associated, and their 

 noise is perfectly deafening when the young are just hatched, the 

 old birds flying close round the head of an intruder, except where 

 they have been much disturbed. At other times the Oyster-catcher 

 is remarkably wary, and alarms every other bird in the neighbour- 

 hood with its shrill keej>, keep. It swims well and sometimes takes 

 to the water of its own accord. Mussels, whelks, and limpets are 

 neatly scooped from their shells by the bird's powerful bill ; annelids, 

 crustaceans, small fish and marine plants being also eaten. 



The arrangement of the black-and-white plumage of the adult is 

 shown in the engraving ; bill orange-vermillion ; irides crimson ; legs 

 and toes livid flesh-colour. Whole length 16-5 in. ; wing 975 in. 

 From autumn to spring the front and sides of the neck are white, 

 and the bill is horn-coloured towards the tip. The young have the 

 feathers of the back and wings margined with brown. 



A Sheathbill, Chionis alba, of Antarctic America, obtained in 

 Carlingford Lough, co. Down, on December 2nd 1892, is in the 

 collection of Mr. R. M. Barrington. Living examples have often 

 been sent from the Falkland Islands. 



