BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 123 



mania and the majority of the islands in Bass Strait, the Pied 

 Oyster-catcher is fairly connnon, but very shy. When disturbed 

 the bird utters a cry which, as ^Ir. A. J. Campbell tells us, has 

 caused a southern tribe of aborigines in Western Australia to call 

 it " Quickham," for so the alarm notes may be translated. 



Its flight is rapid and strong; frequently when on the wing 

 it will utter its loud call notes, as though endeavouring to attract 

 the attention of others of its species. As a general thing it moves in 

 pairs, but occasionally a small flock of some half-dozen birds may 

 be seen busily searching among the debris and stones left ex- 

 posed by the tide for small crustaceans, molluscs, and the like. 

 The late Sir Walter Buller wrote: — "During the nuptial season 

 it is curious to watch the male bird paying his addresses to the 

 mate of his choice ; elevating his back and lowering his bill till 

 it nearly touches the ground, he struts or runs round her with a 

 loud quivering note, no doidit expressive of his undying attach- 

 ment ; and when there are two rival males thus performing in 

 concentric circles before the same shrine of devotion, it is amus- 

 ing to watch with what perfect indifference* the object of this 

 demonstration appears to receive the attentions of her rival suitors. 

 When once, however, her affections are secured, she appears to 

 remain faithful to her mate, and the pair continue together, if 

 not for life, certainly long after the breeding season, with all its 

 cares, ha^s passed by. Even when consorting together, as they 

 frequently do, in small flocks, each pair seems to maintain its 

 individuality ; and when at rest on the sands the party may be seen 

 disposed in couples, at short distances apart from the rest." . 



SOOTY OR BLACK OYSTER-CATCHER 



(Hcrmatopns unicolor, Wagler). 



Male. — ^^Entire plumage sooty-black; iris red; round the eye is 

 a fleshy circle of coral-red ; bill coral-red ; legs and feet coral-pink ; 

 nails yellow. Dimensions in mm. : — Length, 470; bill, 7."); wing, 

 288; tail, 127; tarsus, 53. 



Female. — Plumage similar to male; bill longer by l.')-17 mm., 

 and more slender. The difference in the length of the bills is the 

 only external distinguishing mark of the sexes. 



Young. — Small editions of the adults. 



Nest. — As Mr. J. D. MaoLaine remarks, the eggs are laid 

 among the seaweed, well above high water mark, oron the mesem- 

 bryanthemum in the clefts of the rocks. 



Eggs. — Clutch two; somewhat elliptical In shape; texture 

 fairly coarse; surface glossy; colour stone-grey, marked and 

 spotted with irregular shaped and sized blotches of imiber and 

 dark brown, a few markings of dull greyish appearing as though 

 under the surface. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch : — (1) 66 x 42, 

 (2) 63 X 45. 



