92 FEATHERED GAME 



tent frequent the inland country, scarcely ever 

 going farther from the sea than does the tide 

 water in the rivers. 



All along the eastern shores of the two 

 Americas this bird is found, northward to Lab- 

 rador or farther in the summer months, and 

 wintering from the Middle Atlantic States to 

 and beyond the tropics, far down the South 

 American coast. It is also found on the Pacific 

 side of the continents, but the more common 

 species there is the Black Oyster Catcher. 



The Oyster Catcher's bill is remarkably stout 

 and well fitted for its purpose, that is, for driv- 

 ing into "sea urchins," knocking '^ wrinkles" 

 off the rocks and burrowing into the sand for 

 razor fish and small crabs, for he eats any of 

 the marine shellfish which he can capture. 



The bird is large and showy, and as it be- 

 hooves him for his safety's sake, wary in pro- 

 portion as he looms above his shore-bird neigh- 

 bors. Scarcely to be approached at any 

 season, few are captured and they are fairly 

 earned by good and careful work. Decoys and 

 enticing whistlings avail naught, for the bird 

 is either unsocial or aristocratic and well sat- 

 isfied with his own society. 



