336 THE OYSTER-CATCHER. 



The fifth and last genus consists of Oyster-Catchers, 

 or Sea-Pies, from the black and white plumage of our 

 British species bearing some resemblance to that of the 

 Magpie. They live by the sea-side, feeding on marine 

 insects, for which they may be seen actively searching, 

 at low water. Their name of Oyster-Catcher is also 

 derived from their expertness in extracting the oyster, 

 which however can be done only when the shell is open, 

 and not even then without great caution; for instances 

 have been known of the unfortunate bird being made pri- 

 soner by the oyster closing upon its beak. 



Its eggs are laid on the bare ground, for the nest, 

 if it deserves to be so called, consists only of small 

 shingle and shells thrown up by the sea, so little above 

 high-water mark, that in high spring-tides they are fre- 

 quently swept away. When taken young,' they may be 

 easily tamed, and we have been surprised that they are 

 not more frequently introduced into our pleasure-grounds. 

 We remember seeing very considerable numbers of them, 

 some years ago, on the lawn of the Pavilion at Brighton, 

 collected by order of his late Majesty George the Fourth, 

 where they were running about with the tameness and 

 familiarity of poultry. Nothing could be more orna- 

 mental than their smart pieballed glossy coats, in con- 

 trast with their long, bright, orange beaks and legs, and 

 crimson irides. 



TABLE XXIII. (See page 20.) 



Order 5. WADERS. Tribe 2. CULTIROSTRES, {Cutting Beaks,} 

 so called from the Latin words, culter, a knife, and rostrum, a 

 beak. 



THIS tribe contains the Herons, Cranes, &c., known 

 by their thick, long, and strong cutting bills. The first 

 genus consists of the Heron, properly so called, which 

 differs from the others chiefly in the middle toe being 

 toothed or pectinated, and in having their beaks cleft 

 under the eyes. In other respects, they in so many 



