6 BRITISH BIRDS. 



The Oyster-catcher loves a rocky coast which is broken here and there 

 by sandy bays and inlets, where the shingle is spread out into banks, and 

 where creeks or lochs run some distance inland and are studded with 

 rocks and islands. It is one of the wariest of birds, and never fails to rise 

 whistling into the air at an intruder's approach, flying round and round 

 his head, alighting perhaps a hundred yards away on the rocky beach 

 eagerly scanning his movements. Sometimes, aided by the cover a rock- 

 bound coast affords, the observer is able to approach the Oyster-catcher 

 closely and watch its movements. It runs daintily up and down the sandy 

 beach, its bright legs and bill contrasting with its pure black and white 

 plumage, and every now and then it wades a little distance into the water. 

 It may often be seen on the sands, when the tide is coming in, eagerly 

 picking up small marine animals as they are washed ashore, allowing the 

 spent waves and foam to flow all round it. Very often it may be observed 

 searching the rocks for limpets, dexterously dislodging them by a twist of 

 its powerful bill, or sometimes it may be seen, with head and neck drawn in 

 between its shoulders, quietly dozing on a sea-girt rock. Oyster-catchers, 

 if not exactly gregarious birds, are certainly very sociable ones, and even 

 in the height of the breeding-season may be observed in little parties on 

 the beach. The flight of this singular bird is very powerful, and performed 

 by a series of rapid flappings, the wings being sometimes held motionless 

 as the bird skims along, or elevated for a few moments after it alights. It 

 sometimes runs for a little distance with its wings elevated. When alarmed 

 the whole party rise en masse, and wheel round and round, all the time 

 calling lustily to each other and arousing all the birds in the neighbour- 

 hood. Few things, indeed, add more to the charm of a wild rock-bound 

 coast than the clear shrill whistle or pipe of the Sea-Pie or Oyster- catcher. 

 Should one of the birds be shot, its companions seem to lose much of their 

 habitual wariness in their anxiety for its fate, and flutter above the fallen 

 bird, or sweep round it, crying mournfully. When wounded the Oyster- 

 catcher often takes to the water ; but, although it is capable of swimming, 

 it does not seem at home on the waves. It is said occasionally to dive 

 when hard pressed. It is difficult to convey a clear idea of the note of the 

 Oyster-catcher by a written description. It is a sound somewhat inter- 

 mediate between a pipe and a whistle, and may be expressed as keep or 

 kveep, very loud and shrill. It is often rapidly repeated, and when several 

 birds are calling at the same time the din they make is quite startling. 

 This note is subject to some modulation, and is scarcely audible at times, 

 when used as a call of affection between the sexes ; and during the pairing- 

 season it is often repeated so rapidly that it forms a trill. 



The Oyster-catcher is very regular in its habits, and may be observed to 

 pass with great punctuality to and from its feeding-grcunds. As soon as 

 the falling tide leaves the rocks bare the birds in little parties, or some- 



