AMEEICAN OYSTEE CATCHER 93 



The coloring of this species is arranged in 

 solid masses and is sharply contrasted. The 

 bill is long and heavy, chisel pointed, deepest at 

 a point one-third of its length from the head, 

 and in color bright red, growing orange yellow 

 at the tip. Head, neck and fore breast black. 

 Back and wings dusky brown. The rump 

 mainly like the back, but on the edges of the 

 tail coverts growing white, this color also show- 

 ing on the bases of the tail feathers, and these 

 going through the shades of brown and dusky 

 to jet black at the tips. Wings like the back 

 in color, with a crossbar of white formed by the 

 ends of the greater coverts and some of the 

 secondaries. Linings of the wings and entire 

 under parts white. Eyes red with a circle of 

 orange about them. Feet and legs stout, of a 

 pale pinkish color. The length of this species 

 varies from seventeen to twenty inches, and its 

 spread of wings between thirty-three and thir- 

 ty-five inches. 



There are several other species of oyster 

 catchers. Nearly every sea coast in the world 

 affords them sustenance and is inhabited by 

 some member of the family. 



