Shore-bird Shooting 495 



Habitat — Ranges from the Aleutian Islands to Lower California. 

 Breeds from California north, and winters from British Columbia 

 south. Recorded from the Kuril Islands, probably by mistake. 



From Alaska, along the Pacific Coast to Lower 

 California, this bird ranges, frequenting not so 

 much the sandy beaches, as is the habit of other 

 oyster-catchers, but the rocky shores, feeding on 

 mollusks and various small shellfish, among the 

 seaweed. The black oyster-catcher is very noisy, 

 and calls to its companions with a shrill, sharp note, 

 readily answering if his cry is imitated. The bird 

 breeds in the Aleutian Islands in May, depositing 

 its eggs on the beach, the color of which so closely 

 resembles the surroundings it is dif^cult to find 

 them. In unfrequented places this species is not 

 wild, but quickly learns to appreciate danger. It 

 walks with a " solemn, stilted gait," bobbing the 

 head up and down as it proceeds. 



