OYSTER-CATCHER. 63 



food; but the latter, for the most part only if alarmed. The 

 young too evince the same habits, and run about almost 

 immediately after being hatched. They fly strongly, and sail 

 for some short distance before pitching down. 



They feed in the mornings and evenings, and at night, on 

 various shell-fish mussels, limpets, and other Crustacea; worms, 

 and marine insects. For dislodging the former their strong 

 and wedge-shaped bill is admirably adapted, They roost 

 during the day, standing either on one or both legs on a stone, 

 rock, or bank. While the tide covers their feeding-places 

 they repair to the neighbouring corn and other fields, which 

 they again quit for their more natural resorts as soon as 

 permitted. 



They are extremely noisy during the time that they have 

 young, screaming loudly, or scolding in their defence. Meyer 

 says, 'the call-note of the bird in question sounds most like 

 the word 'quip' or 'whip,' uttered in a very high tone, and 

 repeated several times when on the wing; the concert is 

 generally begun by one bird in a moderate 'tempo,' which 

 increases to 'allegro,' and finally 'presto, presto,' being joined 

 by an increased number of voices until all unite in the 

 chorus.' 



The nest is placed among gravel or stones, or among grass 

 near the sea bank, in situations above high-water mark, 

 where these materials of building are at hand, and the bird 

 seems to be especially partial to a mixture of broken shells, 

 which it carefully collects together and places in a slight 

 hollow in the ground, using considerable care in their dis- 

 position. Several nests appear to be made, sometimes, before 

 the architect can fashion one to give perfect satisfaction; 

 many nests are placed in contiguity to each other, intermixed 

 too, it may be, with those of other aquatic birds. Some 

 have been met with on the top of isolated rocks, at a 

 height of from ten to fifteen feet from the ground. In lieu 

 of shells small pieces of stone or gravel are selected, and 

 the whiter they are the better they seem to please. Incu- 

 bation lasts about three weeks. 



The eggs are four in number, and of a yellowish stone- 

 colour, spotted with grey, brown, and brownish black. They 

 have been found variously in April, May, June, and July, 

 so that it would appear that two broods are reared in the 

 year. The eggs are disposed with their small ends inwards. 



The young birds run soon after they are hatched, and are 



