CHARADRIID.E. 



CHARADRIID.E 



^- ~ ^.i^ 



H^MATOPUS OSTRALEGUS, LinnSBUS.* 



THE OYSTER-CATCHER, 



OR SEA-PIE. 



Hcsmatopus ostralegiis. 



H^MATOPUS, Linnceusf. — Beak longer than the head, straight, strong, the 

 point much compressed, forming a wedge ; culmen of the anterior part slightly 

 convex ; upper mandible with a broad lateral groove, extending one-half the 

 length of the bill ; mandibles nearly equal in size and length, with the thin ends 

 truncated. Nostrils basal, lateral, linear, pierced in the membrane of the 

 mandibular groove. Legs of moderate length, naked for a short space above the 

 tarsal joint ; tarsi strong. Feet with three toes only, all directed forward, 

 united at their base by a membrane ; claws strong, broad, not very much 

 pointed. 



* Jlceniaiopus Oslraler/us, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 257 (17G6). 

 t loc. cit. 



