The Oyster-Catcher 



they all rise as though with one mind, and shrieking out 

 their shrill call as they go, pass along to the next promontory 

 which will afford them dry foothold for a few minutes 

 longer. Such is the Oyster-Catcher and such his life, rest- 

 less as the tide itself near which he lives. He is a common 

 and abundant bird throughout the year on all our coasts, 

 feeding more especially on mussels and limpets, which its 

 powerful wedge-shaped bill enables it to detach from the 

 rocks. Other food such as Crustacea and marine insects are 

 also eaten. Early in spring the large flocks begin to break 

 up into pairs. 



As a rule the nest is on the shingle or the top of a low 

 rock just above high-water mark, but where the rocks are 

 steep and precipitous it is placed on the top of the cliff, 

 many feet above the sea-level. In Scotland they sometimes 

 nest inland along the river banks. The nest is merely a 

 slight depression round which a few snails' shells or stones 

 are laid, and it is to this habit rather than from its food 

 that it owes the name of Oyster-Catcher. The eggs, two or 

 three in number, are pale clay, freckled and spotted with 

 black. Incubation is carried on by the hen, while her mate 

 stands on some point of vantage from where, on the approach 

 of a stranger, he gives vent to his loud and noisy " keep, 

 keep, keep," which is continued until the supposed danger 

 is past. On the first note of alarm the hen leaves her nest 

 and soon joins in the chorus with her mate. 



The young when first hatched are dark greyish brown, 

 mottled and striped with black ; they are at once taken to the 

 share and are very carefully watched over by their parents, 

 who, when the tide is out, take them a considerable distance 



3" 



