OYSTER- CATCHER 



PIED OYSTER-CATCHERSEA PIE OLIVE. 



PLATE CLVI. 

 H&matopus ostralegus, . . . PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



THE nest is placed among gravel or stones, or among 

 grass near the sea bank, in situations above high-water 

 mark, where these materials of building are at hand, and 

 the bird seems to be especially partial to a mixture of 

 broken shells, which it carefully collects together and 

 places in a slight hollow in the ground, using considerable 

 care in their disposition. Several nests appear to be made 

 sometimes, before one gives perfect satisfaction ; many nests 

 are also placed in contiguity to each other, intermixed too, 

 it may be, with those of other aquatic birds. Some have 

 been met with on the top of isolated rocks, at a height of 

 from ten to fifteen feet from the ground. In lieu of shells, 

 small pieces of stone or gravel are selected. Incubation 

 lasts about three weeks. " In many parts of the Highlands, " 

 says Mr. Booth, "they rear their young in a potato or oat 

 field, the female sitting plainly in view until the crops get 

 up sufficiently to afford concealment. While travelling by 

 the Highland railway from Dunkeld towards Aberfeldy or 

 Blair-Athol, I often watched several birds sitting on their 

 eggs in the fields near the line." 



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