BIRDS MET WITH BY THE WILDFOWLER 337 
ern shores, though it has been obtained both in Scotland 
and Ireland. In winter it migrates down to the Equator. In 
food and habits it resembles the Red-necked Phalarope,: but 
its breeding range is more northerly, and it is in fact circum- 
polar. It is very tame, and may be approached very closely 
as it swims in shallow sheltered places a few feet from the 
edge of the shore, beach pools, or inland ponds, where it 
happens to be. 
It generally comes to us in autumn, when it is wearing the 
grey plumage, which is grey on the back and white beneath, 
with a white forehead and a black streak running backwards 
through the eye. Bill black. The adult male is less in size, 
and in summer is duller in colour than the female, and the 
young similar but buffish on the chest. 
A few solitary examples are sometimes seen in nuptial 
dress during the spring or very early autumn. In this 
plumage the head and back are black, with rufous margins 
to the feathers; cheeks white; under parts chestnut. Bill 
yellow. Length about 8 in. ; wing 4°9 in. 
OYSTER-CATCHER 
Hematopus ostralegus (Linneus) 
The Oyster-Catcher—often called Sea Pie—is a resident 
species in these isles, and is met with in Northern Europe as 
well as Central Asia. 
One cannot fail to notice these birds, which in winter 
collect in large flocks along the shore, often sitting on a sand- 
bar and seemingly daring the tide to reach them. They sit there 
till the water is just about to wet their feathers, then they all 
rise as though of one mind, and, shrieking out their shrill call 
as they go, pass along to the next promontory which will 
afford them dry foothold for a few minutes longer. Such is 
the Oyster-Catcher, and his life is as restless as the tide 
itself near which he lives. He is a common and abundant 
y 
