THE OYSTER CATCHER 



207 



Genus Haernatopus. 



Bill longer than the head, strong, rather concave npwards, 

 much compressed at the tip. First quill the longest. Tarsi longer 

 than the middle toe. Almost cosmopolitan. 



The Oyster Catcher. — Torea. 

 Ilaeniatopus longirostris. 



Above greenish black; below and over the tail white; bill and legs 

 crimson; a white band on the wing; eye crimson. Length of the 

 wing, 11 in.; of the tarsus, 2 in. Egg — Pale yellow brown, spotted 

 and blotched with brownish black; length, 2.25 in. Molucca Islands,. 

 Australia, New Zealand, and the Chatham Islands. 



Oyster Catcher. 



An interesting description of this bird has been given by Mr^ 

 Potts, as follows: — "Years ago, in 1858, before the shores and 

 estuaries were frequented so much, these shore birds were 

 exceedingly abundant. Thousands of them were to be seen 

 together, and, as late as 1871, they were abundant on the mud- 

 flats in Lyttelton Harbour. The oyster catcher is one of the 

 wariest and most restless of our birds. It is always ready with 

 its clamorous alarm-note to wake up each echo and disturb every 

 bird within sound of its shrill cry. But, in the breeding season,. 



