2 CHAEADRIID^. 



Messrs. H. A. Macpherson and W. Duckworth write*: — "Contrary to the 

 habits of the species in the north of Scotland, the Oyster-catcher, in Cumberland, is 

 chiefly a littoral bird, constantly nesting on extensive beds of shingle, though a 

 few pairs nestle among sandhills and in meadows near the sea, as well as on the 

 margin of the Solway salt marshes. 



" The nest is a slight depression in the sand or shingle, frequently at a short 

 distance above the mark of a high tide. It is generally lined Avith broken shells 

 or inlaid with fine pebbles ; but some nests have no linings, or are surrounded by 

 a few coarse straws. Others, again, are lined with both pebbles and comminuted 

 shells, fragments of rotten wood being carefully disposed around ; and Ave have 

 seen a nest on the edge of RocklifFe marsh lined Avith the floAvers of the sea-pink 

 [Statice Armeria). The first clutches are complete at the beginning of May, and 

 the eggs are much incubated by the end of the month, unless the nests are 

 robbed. The nests are often placed far apart, but a favourite spit of shingle may 

 contain half a dozen nests, Avithin a stone's throAv of each other. The Oyster- 

 catcher does not sit very closely ; but Avhen the eggs are incubated, the females 

 may occasionally be seen running off the nests, prior to taking AA'ing. The young 

 are active, and squat readily under the cover of long grass, or bolt into any 

 convenient hole to avoid capture. If caught and released, the nestlings run off 

 Avith great speed, halting from time to time to consider Avhich Avay to turn. When 

 the young are fledged, the adults continue their charge, and exhibit vociferous 

 distress, if their progeny be endangered. When fully fledged, the young may 

 be seen folloAving the parents in tAvos and threes, for three eggs constitute a 

 clutch, though Ave have found a clutch containing four eggs on tAVO different 

 occasions." 



Referring to the breeding of this species in Lancashire, Mr. F. S. Mitchell 

 saysf : — "The eggs are laid the end of May or early in June, and although the 

 nest is generally only a slight hollow scooped in the sand, it is sometimes 

 beautifully lined Avith fragments of shell, and often AAdth pieces of Avood and 

 sea-Aveed, and bits of straws. From being placed among the large stones and 

 drift just above high-AA'ater mark, the eggs, AA-hich so resemble their sm-roundings 

 in appearance, are not easy to find, and until the young are hatched, the birds are 

 very Avary. When this happens, hoAvever, they fly round the intruder AA'ith 

 piercing shrieks, feigning lameness, and using every artifice to lead him aAA'ay to a 

 distance. The nest is often placed too among the bays of the sand-hills, and the 



* ' Birds of Cumberland,' pp. 139, 140. 

 t 'Birds of Lancashire,' pp. 181, 182, 



