300 Synopsis of the Birds 



retreating surf in search of food ; probing the mud with their 

 strong and well adapted bill ; breaking thin shells, and dex- 

 trously removing the animal from hard ones. Laying a 

 few eggs amongst the grass in salt marshes, or in dry sand. 

 Flight swift] vigorous, long continued ; collect in large flocks 

 to migrate. Voice loud and shrill. 



Found in all quarters of the globe; composed of but three 

 species. 



223. HaiMATOPus ostralegus L. Blackish ; rump, band on 

 the wing, base of the quills and tail feathers, and from the 

 breast beneath, white ; bill and feet red. 



Summer plumage, glossy black : winter, a white crescent on 

 the throat. 



Young, back and wings sooty-brownish ; bill and feet 

 dusky. 



Pied Oyster-catcher, Ecematopus ostralegus, Wits. Am. Orn. 

 viii. p. is. pi. 64. Jig. 2. summer dress. 



Inhabits the north of both continents. 



FAMILY XVIII. HERODII. 



Herodii, III. Cultirostres, Cuv. Latr. Herodiones, La- 

 tirostres, A rophoni, Vieill. Erodie, Latirostre, Ranz. 

 Gruidce, Ardeidce, t'igors. 



Bill longer than the head, very robust, generally sharp, 

 edges cutting. Neck elongated. Feet elongated, four-toed ; 

 tarsus longer than the middle toe, reticulated ; toes 3 — 1, and 

 nails, long. Wings moderate, obtuse. Tail of ten or twelve 

 feathers. 



Female differing but little, if any, from the male. Young 

 differing much from the adult until the third year. 



Gait slow, grave. Flight slow, though light, and elevated. 

 Monogamous : build in trees, thickets, aquatic grasses, some- 

 times on edifices : female only sits on the eggs, whilst the 

 male watches, and supplies her with food ; both sexes nurse 

 and rear the young, which only leave the nest when full- 

 fledged. Flesh unpalatable. 



