362 



GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



OYSTER-CATCHER (Hccmatopus palliatus). 



Length. — 17 to 21 inches; bill 3 to 4; no hind toe, outer and middle toes 

 slightly webbed. 



Adult. — Head and neck black; back, wings and end of tail dark brown; 

 rump, broad wing bands, base of tail and under parts white; bill ver- 

 milion, long, stout, compressed toward tip; feet, legs and eyelids pale red. 



Young. — Head and neck more brown than black; feathers of upper parts 

 more or less edged with buff, bill dull rather than bright. 



Notes. — A loud shrill whistling, wheep — wheep — vJieo (Wilson). 



Nest. — A mere depression in marsh or beach. 



Eggs. — Two or three, about 2.20 by 1.55, bluish white or buff, marked with 

 blackish and various shades of brown and neutral tints. 



Season. — Formerly summer resident; late April to August. 



Range. — Sea-coasts of temperate and tropical America from Virginia, Texas, 

 Louisiana, south on both coasts of Mexico and South America to south- 

 ern Brazil and central Chile; formerly to Labrador; breeds probably 

 throughout its range; its place is taken from Lower California to Alaska 

 by the Black Oyster-catcher. 



History. 

 The American Oyster-catcher is a candidate for the Hst of 

 extirpated species as it no longer breeds in the northeast, and 

 there are only two records of its capture or occurrence in Mas- 

 sachusetts since Audubon's time; but it mav vet occur here 



