10 BRITISH BIRDS. 



lars, lesser coverts of the wings, and end of the tail, 

 black; quills, in some, dark brown, striped less or 

 more in the middle and inner webs \vith white; 

 secondary quills white towards their base, the un- 

 covered points black, narrowly edged with white; 

 breast, belly, vent, upper half of the tail, lower part 

 of the back, and greater wing coverts, white; legs 

 and feet pale red: the toes, three in number, are 

 short and strong, each surrounded with a mem- 

 braneous edge, and covered with a hard scaly skin, 

 which enables the bird to traverse and climb the 

 rough and sharp shell-covered rocks, in quest of 

 prey, without injury. 



Although the Oyster-catcher is not provided with 

 powers fitted for an expert swimmer, yet it does not 

 show any aversion to taking the water, upon which 

 it may be said to float rather than to swim. When 

 wounded and pursued, it can dive with great quick- 

 ness, and remain a considerable time under water. 

 These birds are almost constant inhabitants of the 

 sea-shores, being seldom found inland. In winter 

 they assemble in flocks, are then shy and wild, and 

 are seen in pairs in the breeding season and in the 

 summer only. The female deposits her eggs in an 

 open and dry situation, out of tide-mark, sheltered 

 merely by a tuft of bent grass, without any other 

 nest than the bare sand and fragments of shells, 

 blown thither by the wind. She lays three or four 

 eggs of a greenish grey, spotted with black, which 

 she leaves during the day exposed to the influence 

 of the sun, and is careful to sit upon them herself 

 only during the night and in bad weather. The 

 young ones may easily be tamed, and will associate 

 with domestic poultry. 



