164 GAME BIRDS OF XORTII AMERICA. 



The Charadriidcc having been noticed in a previous chapter, 

 are not here further discussed. 



Very many different species of Shore Birds may often be found 

 associated, and frequently those whose relationship to one another 

 is quite distant, as for instance the Willets and Curlews. Many 

 of the smaller sandpipers so closely resemble each other that one 

 is quite likely to confuse them, the distinctions being in some cases 

 very minute and trivial, dependent perhaps on the shape of a foot 

 or bill. In many species too the color varies with the season, and 

 a bird that is grey in winter may be red in summer. This 

 fact has given rise to a habit, among sportsmen and amateur nat- 

 uralists, of multiplying the species of this order to an almost in- 

 definite extent. All the species of waders found on our coast from 

 Florida to Labrador are denominated by most of those who shoot 

 them, as Bay Birds. Among these are included the Godwits, 

 Willets, Plovers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Curlew and the 

 numerous tribe of Sand-pipers. Taken in ornithological order, 

 first of our Shore birds, after the plover, comes 



Hismatopus palliatus. —Temm. Oyster-Catcher. 



The name of Oyster-catcher is derived from their habit of pry- 

 ing open the shells of bivalve moUusks, but it is doubtful whether 

 an oyster proper was ever caught in this way. The bird is of a 

 sooty black or brown color above, under parts below the breast 

 white, as is also the rump and a ring around the eye ; bill red or 

 orange, in shape something compressed and knife-hke, legs flesh 

 color. This bird is found on the shores of both oceans, but is no- 

 where very plenty. He is not prized for food and is rarely shot or 

 hunted by sportsmen. 



Sirepsilas intcrj'res. — lUiger. Turnstone. Brant-bird. Calico-back. Chicaric. 

 Chicltling. Sand-runner. 



Of these names, that of Turnstone is applied on account of the 

 curious habit these birds have, by dexterously inserting their bills 

 beneath stones and pebbles along the shore, of securing what in- 

 sects, or prey of any kind, may be lurking beneath. The names 

 Chicaric and Chickling have reference to their rasping notes, that 

 of Calico-back, to the curiously variegated plumage of the upper 



