158 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



once attracted my attention, and not observing me, 

 I suppose, alighted within gunshot upon the shingle. 

 I instantly recognized it as a Turnstone, and quickly 

 endeavoured to load one barrel with as little delay 

 as possible, knowing that the bird could only be a 

 passing visitant, and would make no stay here were 

 it unmolested. The first motion of my arm, how- 

 ever, alarmed it, and, again uttering its peculiar loud 

 twitter, it got up and passed close enough for me to 

 see that it was a young bird. It then rose high in 

 the air, and flew down the water, when I lost sight 

 of it, and never again saw it. 



On mentioning this circumstance the following 

 day to the keeper, he informed me that he had 

 noticed this bird at the water for two days pre- 

 viously, but it had eluded his attempts to shoot it. 

 He described the species accurately, and added that 

 many years ago he had killed two, late in autumn, 

 at the same Reservoir. 



OYSTERCATCHER, Hamatopus ostralegus. Pro- 

 vincial, Sea-pie. From the contrast of its colours, 

 black and white body, orange bill, red eye, and pink 

 legs and feet, the Oystercatcher is one of the most 

 attractive of our waders, and I hardly know a pret- 

 tier sight than a flock of these birds, as viewed 

 through a glass, feeding upon a rocky shore at low 

 water. The changing attitudes in the flock, now 

 compact, now scattered, with an occasional quarrel 

 for a mussel or small crab, furnish a study alike for 



