GRALLATORES. 159 



the naturalist and artist ; while ever and anon a 

 noisy individual utters its ringing call-note 



or, if disturbed and on the wing, its loud, clear 

 whistle 



The Oystercatcher is essentially a seashore bird, 

 and is rarely found at any distance inland. In a 

 list of water birds occurring at Kingsbury Keservoir, 

 published in ' The Zoologist' for 1843, I find the 

 Oystercatcher included ; and in July, 1859, Mr. Bond 

 shot a male of this species at the same piece of 

 water. I have recently examined a specimen in 

 winter plumage, killed at Elstree Reservoir, early in 

 April, 1866. 



Mr. Yarrell says : " I have known this bird killed 

 as high up the Thames as Oatlands (near Shepper- 

 ton) , which is at least fifty miles from the mouth of 

 the river." 



In its usual haunts the Oystercatcher is extremely 

 wary, and keeps out in the open and most exposed 

 part of the coast, generally in small flocks of about 

 ten or a dozen. On this account it is very difficult 

 to approach, except under cover or in a boat. Many 



p 2 



