OYSTER CATCHER. 323 



approach within shot, sounding their shrill whistle 

 on the approach of an enemy, and flying off in 

 small parties at a time; single birds may, however, 

 be called within reach, and if one is killed, the flock 

 or party will turn and hover over it, uttering their 

 cries during the while. As stated, they feed at low 

 water, resting during the height of the tides, and 

 equally so if the change is during the night. When 

 residing on a coast where they were abundant, we 

 have often, at night, been able to distinguish the 

 state of the tide, from the whistle of the Oyster 

 Catcher passing to its feeding grounds. Though 

 their chief haunts are the shores of the sea, they are 

 also occasionally seen inland by the course of rivers. 

 This appears more prevalent as we reach the north, 

 where, however, the land is often much cut up by 

 bays and arms of the sea, along which they also 

 stretch. Professor Fleming has mentioned, that 

 they breed on islands in the Tummel in Perthshire, 

 where we have ourselves seen them. Mr. Thomas 

 Grant of Edinburgh, as quoted by Mr. Yarrell, 

 states, " that they regularly migrate to the interior 

 of the north-eastern counties to breed." We have 

 also seen the Oyster Catcher on the river Tweed, as 

 high up as Dryburgh. On the English rivers it is 

 sometimes killed far inland, but only as a stray 

 visitant, and not breeding. They incubate upon the 

 ground, generally in pairs, but in some instances in, 

 as it were, a common breeding place ; little nest is 

 made, but the eggs are laid in some hollow in the 

 sand or shingle ; in one or two instances we have 



