THE OYSTER CATCHER, OR SEA PIE. 



401 



of birds whose heads and bodies were somewhat like those 

 of Ducks, their beaks orange-coloured, their legs longer 

 and more slender than in any of the Duck tribe, and their 

 plumage deep black and pure white. These being the 

 colours of the Magpie, as well as of the birds before me, 

 and the latter being evidently in their element — on the 

 sea-shore — I had no hesitation in pronouncing them to 



THE OYSTER CATCHEK, OK SEA PIE. 



be Sea Pies, and in admitting the propriety of the name. 

 They were running about with the gait of Plovers, often 

 wading to a slight distance, and feasting on worms, shell- 

 fish, or whatever other animal matter chanced to be there. 

 Birds generally are less afraid of carriages containing men 

 than of pedestrians ; and so it was now. I approached 

 much nearer to them on that occasion than on any other. 

 They frequently uttered a harsh note in a high key, which, 



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