244 HILL RIRDS OF SCOTLAND 



failed to cause her to leave her nest, but she moved off just 

 before a train passed over her oa\ti line. This remarkable 

 nesting station was chosen at least two years in succession. 



I have seen an Oyster Catcher sitting on her eggs in 

 a larch wood, and the nest has also been found on the 

 top of a pine-stump. Before the full complement of eggs 

 has been laid, both cock and hen remain a short distance 

 from the nest to guard their future young. 



Incubation is a lengthy process with the Oyster Catcher, 

 for the bird broods close on a month before her eggs hatch 

 out. Even after the young have chipped the hard shell 

 a period of quite forty-eight hours may elapse before 

 they are able to emerge. 



A curious and distinctive method of flight indulged in by 

 the Oyster Catcher during the nesting season has not, so far 

 as I am aware, been put on record. I am unable to state 

 definitely that it is the song of the male bird, but incline 

 to that belief. In the normal flight of the Oyster Catcher, 

 it should be stated, the wings are moved with great rapidity, 

 but not infrequently a certain bird, with no apparent 

 reason, abruptly changes his flight to slow wing beats, 

 comparable to those of a gull. With each thrust of his 

 wings he gives utterance to a cry more long drawn out 

 than the usual whistle, sounding like " kobeeak, kobeeak." 

 When this particular call is heard it is quite certain that 

 the bird has altered his flight. Sometimes, after flying for 

 a few minutes or even less in this fashion, the song — as I 

 imagine it to be — is ceased, and the normal flight straight- 

 way resumed. 



Often the Oyster Catcher flies only a few inches above 

 the surface of a river, but when a bridge has to be passed 

 the birds never, so far as my experience goes, move under 

 it, though they have to rise quite a considerable distance 

 to surmount the obstacle. 



Often when a number of Mussel Pickers are together 



