GRUS. 599 



harbour. Breeds in the Persian Gulf near Bushire. Mr. Hume has given an 

 account of its nidification in vols. r vii. and viii. of Stray Feathers. There is no 

 nest, and the eggs are laid in a burrow about 4 feet deep in the loose sand ; but 

 whether this is dug by the bird, or is that of a crab, is still a question, the holes 

 being, it is said, too narrow to admit the bird. 



Gen. HsematOpUS Linn. 



Bill straight, long, very slightly bent upwards ; nostrils linear in a long cleft ; 

 toes three, all placed forward ; no hind toe. 



1276. HsematOpUS OStralegUS Linn., Sysl. Nat. I, p. 257 ; Jerd., 

 B.Ind. ii. p. 659 ; Hume, Str. F. i. p. 234 ; Blyth, B. Burm. p. 154; Dresser, 

 B. Eur. vii. p. 567; Hume, Str. F. viii. p. 1 12 ; Legge, B. Ceylon p. 987; 

 Murray, Vert. Zool. Sind, p. 235. Haematopus osculans, Swinh., P. Z. S. 

 1871, p. 405 ; Dav. et Oust. Ois Chine, p. 432. The OYSTER CATCHER. 



Entire head, neck, breast, upper back, scapulars and tail black; lower orbital 

 feathers white ; lower back, and entire lower parts white, also a ring round the 

 throat ; primaries black, the inner webs and part of the outer webs of all, 

 except the first two quills, white ; the white on the outer webs of the innermost 

 primaries spreading to the edges ; secondaries basally and narrowly at tip 

 white, with a subterminal black band ; greater coverts and some of the secon- 

 daries and lower tertiaries white, forming a large wing patch ; lesser and 

 primary coverts black; bill orange yellow, or bright scarlet, 3*5 to 3*75 inches 

 long ; irides lake red ; orbits orange. 



Length. 16 to 17 inches ; wing 10*5 ; tail4; tarsus 2*25. 



Hab. Europe, Siberia, India, Ceylon, Afghanistan, Beloochistan, Persian 

 Gulf, Sind, the Eastern and Western Coasts of India ; in fact has a very wide 

 distribution. Inhabitant of the sea shores, being seldom found inland. It 

 lives chiefly on molluscs, worms, &c., and is said to easily disengage limpets 

 from the rocks, and to pluck out the oysters from their half-opened shells, with 

 its admirably adapted wedge-shaped bill. Oyster-Catchers feed in the morn- 

 ings and evenings, and also at night, and are at all times watchful and shy in 

 their habits. 



Family, GRUID^:. 



Bill long ; mandibles equal ; nostrils in a deep groove ; wings long ; tertials 

 long ; tail short, even ; tarsi long, scutellated. 



1277. GruS antigone, Linn., Syst. Nat. p. 235 -;jerd., B. Ind. ii. 

 p. 662; Hume, Nests and Eggs Ind. B. p. 584; Blyth, B. Burm. p. 157; 

 Oates, Str. F. v. p. 164 ; Hume and Dav , Str. F. vi. p. 458; Murray , Vert. 



