Limicolce 



197 



sea animals, with a little vegetable matter. In summer 

 this species is much commoner in Scotland than in 

 England and reaches Shetland ; in winter many 

 migrants visit us from abroad, where the bird ranges 

 over Europe and central Asia. Even in north Britain 

 many pairs breed inland on the stretches of shingle 

 by the rivers, and the same fact holds good of the 



Oyster-catcher's eggs 



Continent. The local name " Sea-pie " of course means 

 Sea Magpie. 



The Avocet (Recurvirostra avocetta) is to us a 

 species of more than usual interest, as it nested in 

 England till about 1824, and might still do so if the 

 individuals and small flocks, which visit us on passage 

 in spring, were unmolested. The bird used to breed in 



