BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 183 



Time. — March, April, May, June, July, August, 

 September, October, and eveu later. 



Bemarks. — Eesideut. Notes: tu-iuliit to-wlioo ; 

 when pleased the bn*d utters a low kind of whistle, 

 and when angered snaps its beak with considerable 

 sound. Local and other names : Brown Owl, Wood 

 Owl, Jinny Oolert, Hoot Owl, Jenny Howlet, Ivy 

 Owl. Comes forth at night and hoots weirdly. 

 This bird is said to stand the light of day worse 

 than any other member of the Owl family, although 

 when fishing in rocky ravines I have seen it 

 abroad on dull days at noon. A close sitter. 



OWL, WOOD. Hee Owl, Tawny. 



OYSTER-CATCHER. 



Descyiptioii of Parent Birds. — Length about 

 sixteen inches. Bill long, straight, and orange- 

 coloured. It is sliaped like a vertical wedge, a form 

 which renders it eminently useful for dislodging 

 limpets and other bivalves from rocks. Irides 

 crimson. Head, neck, back, and wings black, with 

 the exception of a white, broad, slanting bar across 

 the last. Rump and upper half of tail white, lower 

 half black. There is a small patch of white under 

 the eye. Throat and upper part of breast black. 

 Lower breast and all the under parts of the body 

 white. Legs and toes purple ; claws black. In 

 the early spring the bird wears a white collar or 

 gorget on the neck, but this disappears as the 

 season advances. 



Situation and Local it ij. — On the ground, amongst 

 the shingle and sand of the sea - shore. Our 



