OYSTEK-CATCHER. 217 



using every artifice to lead him away to a distance. 

 The nest is often placed too among the bays of the 

 sand-hills, and the eggs are three or four in number, 

 though Mr. Howard Saunders (ZoaL, 1866) expresses 

 great doubts as to any single bird laying more than 

 three. The Oyster-Catcher rarely appears inland, but is 

 sometimes shot on the large reservoirs. Dr. Leigh re- 

 marks (" Nat. Hist. Lane, itc," 1700), " The Sea-pyes 

 are very common," and there is no doubt the Lancashire 

 coast is pre-eminently suitable to the requirements of this 

 notable and brilliant bird. 



FAMILY SCOLOPACID.E.— GENUS EECUEVIEOSTEA. 

 AVOCET. 



PiECURVIROSTRA AVOCETTA, LmUfeUS. 



Mr. W. A. Durnford ("Birds of Walney," 1883) says 

 that the Avocet has occurred on the shores of More- 

 cambe Bay, and Mr. J. B. Hodgkinson informs me that 

 a specimen passed into his possession, which was shot 

 on the Eibble in 1840, he believes in the autumn. 



GENUS PHALAEOPUS. 

 EED-NECKED PHALAEOPE. 



Phalaropus hyperborel's (Limiffius). 



A rare visitor, on passage ; it is said to have been shot 

 on the Eibble. 



