130 THE OYSTER-CATCHER. 



The fifth and last genus consists of Oyster- 

 Catchers, or Sea-Pies, from the black and white 

 plumage of our British species bearing some re- 

 semblance to that of the Magpie. They live by 

 the sea-side a feeding on marine insects, for which 

 they may be seen actively searching, at low water. 

 Their name of Oyster-Catcher is also derived from 

 their expertness in extracting the oyster, which how- 

 ever can be done only when the shell is open, and 

 not even then without great caution; for instances 

 have been known of the unfortunate bird being 

 made prisoner by the oyster closing upon its beak. 



Its eggs are laid on the bare ground, for the nest, 

 if it deserves to be so called, consists only of small 

 shingle and shells thrown up by the sea, so little 

 above high-water mark, that in high spring-tides 

 they are frequently swept away. When taken 

 young, they may be easily tamed, and we have been 

 surprised that they are not more frequently intro- 

 duced into our pleasure-grounds. We remember 

 seeing very considerable numbers of them, some 

 years ago, on the lawn of the Pavilion at Brighton, 

 collected by order of his late Majesty George the 

 Fourth, where they were running about with the 

 tameness and familiarity of poultry. Nothing could 

 be more ornamental than their smart pieballed glossy 

 coats, in contrast with their long, bright, orange 

 "beaks and legs, and crimson irides. 



