CLASS II AVES: ORDER 7. GRALLATORES. 



293 



THE BALCEXICEPS. 



slightly bent upward, pentagonal at tlie base, and compressed into a thin plate toward the apex, 

 wiiich is abruptly truncated. It is a handsome bird, about eighteen inches in length ; its plum- 

 age is variegated with black and white, whence the name of Sea-Pie^ which is occasionally ap- 

 plied to it in England. It is commonly found on the sea-coasts, where it wades about seeking 

 its food, consisting principally of mollusca and young crabs. It is said to detach limpets from the 

 rocks with great facility, and its bill, from its peculiar form, appears particularly adapted for open- 

 ing large bivalves, such as the oyster, and from this, no doubt, its common English name is derived. 

 It appears, however, that it generally contents itself with the smaller bivalves, which it is able to 

 swallow whole, together with worms and marine insects. 



The Finns hold this bird in detestation, for they say it gives notice to the seals when the hunters 

 are approaching. It is distributed throughout Europe in summer, but is stationary in England, 

 Southern Europe, and North Africa. It pairs in spring and unites in flocks in winter. 



The American Oyster-Catcher, H. palliatus, is seventeen inches long; above black and ash- 

 color; beneath white; feeds on oysters and marine bivalves; breeds from Texas to Labrador; 

 common on our Atlantic coasts; sometimes called Flood Gull ; flesh tough and unsavory. 

 Bachman's Oyster-Catcher, H. nir/er, is found on the Northwestern coast of North America, 

 There is, perhaps, another species in the same regions — H. ater of Baird, H. Tovmsendi of 

 Audubon. 



Genus STREPSILAS : Strepsilas. — This includes the Turnstones, which receive their name 

 from their habit of turning over the stones with their bills, as they walk along the sea-shores, 

 to find insects and small Crustacea, on which they feed. The Common Turnstone of Europe,, 



