OYSTER-CATCHER. 433 



one half the length of tlie bill ; mandibles nearly equal in size and length, with 

 the thin ends truncated. Nostrils basal, lateral, linear, pierced in the membrane 

 of the mandibular groove. Legs of moderate length, naked for a short space 

 above the tarsal joint ; tarsi strong. Feet with three toes only, all directed for- 

 ward, united at their base by a membrane ; claws strong, broad, not very much 

 pointed. 



The Oyster-catcher is well known on the shores of our 

 coast, and is also common and indigenous to Ireland ; it 

 appears to prefer sandy bays and wide inlets bounded with 

 banks of shingle, as favourable localities for the production of 

 the various mollusca upon which it principally subsists ; the 

 vertical edge of its truncated, wedge-like beak, seems admira- 

 bly adapted for insertion between the two portions of a bi- 

 valve shell ; and this bird is said to be able to detach limpets 

 from the surface of a rock with ease and certainty. Its food 

 appears to be the mollusca generally, worms, and marine 

 insects. As observed by Mr. Selby, the Oyster-catcher is 

 a handsome bird, when seen on the wing, from the well- 

 marked contrast, and the purity of the black and white co- 

 lours of its plumage ; it runs with rapidity, and can swim and 

 dive with ease ; may frequently be observed to swim short 

 distances when searching for its food, but seldom dives unless 

 to avoid or escape from an enemy. It deposits its eggs, 

 usually four in number, on the bare ground on a shingly 

 beach above high water-mark ; the eggs are of a yellowish 

 stone colour, spotted with ash grey and dark brown ; two 

 inches two lines in length, by one inch six lines in breadth. 

 The female sits about three weeks, during which the male 

 keeps Avatch, and becomes clamorous on the approach of an 

 enemy ; his mate attends to the signal, leaves her nest in 

 silence, and after a circuitous flight, joins him in his endea- 

 vours to scold or decoy away the intruder. The young, when 

 hatched, are covered with a greyish brown down. 



Montagu was certainly mistaken in supposing that the 

 Oyster-catcher never quits the coast. Four examples are 



VOL. II. 2 F 



