OYSTERCATCHER, OR SEAPIE 399 



tions as to the conditions governing the formation of these scrapes. 

 Probably, as in the case of the lapwing, they are made by the males, but 

 in the absence of direct evidence it is not safe to assume too much. 

 Saxby says, " The male has a fancy for constructing numerous others 

 (i.e. scrapes) while his mate is sitting." l The nest scrape like that of 

 the stone-curlew is irregular in form, and measures about six or eight 

 inches across. The greater part of the lining is added after incubation 

 commences. This applies also to many other Waders, especially those 

 that nest on sand and shingle, and ornament their nests with shells 

 and stones. The normal number of eggs in a clutch is three, and, 

 following the constant rule in this family, they are not pyriform as are 

 the eggs of those species which lay four. The eggs of the oystercatcher 

 tend to an oval shape similar to those of the stone-curlew and the 

 Terns. Nests with four eggs are occasionally found, somewhat more 

 frequently in fact than are clutches of five in a nest of any Wader 

 species that normally lays four. One was found at Blakeney in 

 1907 containing four eggs. This nest was within 40 yards of the 

 site occupied by a similar one in the previous year, and was very 

 fairly presumed to belong to the same pair of birds. 2 Both sexes 

 incubate, but the female is said to bear the greater share of the task, 3 

 although Naumann states that she sits only at night or very seldom 

 during the day. 4 



The oystercatcher is a very light sitter, especially when the nest 

 is in a flat open situation. The male stands on guard on a rock or 

 other slight eminence, whence he can sight danger afar off. At his 

 warning pipe the female, with lowered head, runs rapidly away from 

 the nest. During the early days of incubation both birds are very 

 quiet and loth to take wing. When examining a nest, I have 

 noticed the birds running to and fro, a good distance away, and 

 occasionally standing still and peering anxiously in the direction of 

 their home. Later, and more especially when the young are hatched, 



1 Birds of Shetland, p. 175. 8 Zoologist, 1908, p. 128. 



3 Field, 1907, vol. cix. p. 1070. 4 Vogel Mitteleuropas, viii. p. 96. 



