THE FAMILY OF WADERS. 255 



its extermination, at least on the oyster-beds. This, 

 on the coast that I am writing of, would have been 

 a very easy matter, for they were not numerous 

 there. Some of my own relatives, since gone down 

 to old Davy's locker, owned at one time the largest 

 native oyster-beds in the district. Through them 

 we were well acquainted with the oyster's foes, but 

 the so-called oyster-catcher was not one of them. 

 The bird is very handsome, the black parts of his 

 plumage showing blue, purple, and dark bronze- 

 green reflections, the tones all brought into vivid 

 contrast by the pure white of the rest. The orange 

 of the bill and his purple -red legs complete his 

 brilliant colouring. 



The waders get their living in the slub ooze, in 

 the reeking, rotten swamp, about the marshes and 

 the foul marsh -drains ; yet their plumage is pure 

 and glossy, not one speck or stain will you find 

 on the bill, feathers, or feet. A lot of waders feeding 

 on the slub at dusk are easily moved forwards by 

 those who know how to do it, in the direction of 

 a long fine net which is stretched on stakes ; but 

 they must be moved, not frightened. If alarmed, 

 they fly low and dash at full speed into the meshes 



