GRALLATORES. 215 



Genus H^EMATOPUS, Linnmis. 



I believe there is no country in the world of any extent 

 the shores of which are not inhabited by one or other of the 

 numerous species of this genus ; but it would seem that all 

 those which exist in the southern hemisphere are totally differ- 

 ent from those of the northern. Two species inhabit Au- 

 stralia. 



These birds inhabit the sea-shores, particularly those that 

 are rocky, and where every receding tide leaves masses of kelp 

 and corallines, among which they obtain mollusks and other 

 marine animals. During the breeding-season they sometimes 

 ascend rivers and deposit their two eggs on the shingle above 

 high- water mark. Some of the species are subject to a slight 

 seasonal change of plumage, particularly in the colour of the 

 throat. The sexes are alike in external appearance. 



Sp. 498. H^MATOPUS LONGIROSTRIS, Vieillot. 



White-breasted Oyster-catcher. 



Hcematopus longirostris, Vieill., 2nd Edit, du Nouv. Diet. d*Hist. Nat., 

 torn. XV. p. 410. 



picatus, Vig. App. to King's Voy. to Australia. 



australasianus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part v. p. 155. 



HsBinatopus longirostris, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol, vi. 

 pi. 7. 



This species is so generally dispersed over the southern 

 coast of Australia, that to particularize localities where it may 

 be found would be superfluous, but I may state that it is more 

 abundant in Tasmania and the islands in Bass's Straits than 

 elsewhere. As is the case with the European species, low 

 muddy flats under the influence of the tide, sandy bays on the 

 sea-shore, estuaries, the mouths of rivers and marshes are its 

 natural places of resort. During the greater part of the year 

 it may be observed in small companies of from three to ten or 



