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GENUS HAEMATOPUS — LINN. 



' OYSTER-CATCHER. 



[Bill longer ;han the head — hard, siroi.g, compressed toward the end; neck 

 moderate ; body compact; wings long ; tjil short, e\en ; tjes moderate, strong 

 —margins rough, connected at the base— hind toe wanting.] 



HAEMATOPUS PALLIATUS— TEM. 



Pied Oyster catcher, Haematopus Ostraiegus, Wils. Arner. Orn. 

 Mantled Oyjter-ca cher, Harmatopns paliiaius, Nnit. Man. 

 American Oyster-catcher, Haemalopus pall.atus, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Charade?' — Length of bill three inches and three quar- 

 ters, the color red, lighter at the end ; head rounded ; head and 

 neck all round black ; lower parts white ; tail short, even, con- 

 sisting of twelve broad feathers, their basal parts white, terminating 

 with brownish-black : upper tail coverts white ; upper parts brown; 

 secondaries pure white, e.x;cepting a few of the inner, which are 

 marked with dark brown ; irides yellow. Length eighteen inches, 

 wing ten and a half 



With us the Oyster-catcher is a rather scarce bird, "although du- 

 ring summer a few are found on almost every beach along the 

 whole extent of the sea coast." On the coast of New Jersey and the 

 Southern State.s, it is more common ; and according to Mr. Audu- 

 bon, it occurs from Maine to Labrador, where it breeds, as well as 

 in the Middle States and Carolina. 



The Oyster-catcher is generally confined to the sea-coast ; in 

 pairs or small parties it frequents the sandy beaches and shoals in 

 quest of its food, which consists chiefly of muscles, small crabs, and 

 marine insects. At low water it is said to visit the oyster-beds, 

 awaiting a favorable opportunity, when the shells open, to thrust in 

 its hard and strong bill, and rob them of their tenants. From its 



