BIRDS MET WITH BY THE WILDFOWLER 337 



ern shores, though it has been obtained both in Scotland 

 and Ireland. In winter it migrates down to the Equator. In 

 food and habits it resembles the Red-necked Phalarope, but 

 its breeding range is more northerly, and it is in fact circum- 

 polar. It is very tame, and may be approached very closely 

 as it swims in shallow sheltered places a few feet from the 

 edge of the shore, beach pools, or inland ponds, where it 

 happens to be. 



It generally comes to us in autumn, when it is wearing the 

 grey plumage, which is grey on the back and white beneath, 

 with a white forehead and a black streak running backwards 

 through the eye. Bill black. The adult male is less in size, 

 and in summer is duller in colour than the female, and the 

 young similar but buffish on the chest. 



A few solitary examples are sometimes seen in nuptial 

 dress during the spring or very early autumn. In this 

 plumage the head and back are black, with rufous margins 

 to the feathers ; cheeks white ; under parts chestnut. Bill 

 yellow. Length about 8 in. ; wing 4*9 in. 



OYSTER-CATCHER 



H(smatopus ostralegus {Linn^us) 

 The Oyster-Catcher — often called Sea Pie — is a resident 

 species in these isles, and is met with in Northern Europe as 

 well as Central Asia. 



One cannot fail to notice these birds, which in winter 

 collect in large flocks along the shore, often sitting on a sand- 

 bar and seemingly daring the tide to reach them. They sit there 

 till the water is just about to wet their feathers, then they all 

 rise as though of one mind, and, shrieking out their shrill call 

 as they go, pass along to the next promontory which will 

 afford them dry foothold for a few minutes longer. Such is 

 the Oyster-Catcher, and his life is as restless as the tide 

 itself near which he lives. He is a common and abundant 



