THE OYSTER-CATCHER. 73 



sion in the ground in which to place its eggs, which 

 are of two or three shades of stone-colour, sometimes 

 inclining to green, the spots being ash or nearly black, 

 and differing greatly in form, size, and disposition; one 

 variety has a few red spots. When there are four eggs, 



THE OYSTER-CATCHER. 



the bird places them in the form of a cross. There 

 are few counties possessing a sea-coast where the 

 Oyster-catcher is not found ; but its favourite localities 

 are Norfolk, the Fern Islands, the Isle of Man, and 

 the Isles of Scilly and Lundy, and the west coast of 



