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PILECOCIAL GRALLATOUES — LIMICOLiE. 



the months of May and Juno. The last contained an egg nearly ready for exclusion. 

 The birds were alone, or rather, were associating with the black species oidy ; Init 

 not in pairs, as they did. From this Dr. Cooper su])posi'd that it is a mere straggler 

 on the l*acili(! coast : perhaps more common southward, but it had not been observed 

 by him farther north. He found them among the seaweeds on the rocks, or along the 

 sandy beach, feeding chiefly on small Crustacea and luollusca, and very wild. They 

 swallowed small shell-covered auinuils, either entire or i)artially broken. 



Dr. Bryant mentions finding the Oyster Catcher abundant everywhere throughout 

 the Bahamas, resident and breeding wherever there were sandy or gravelly beaches. 

 It also breeds on the Island of Cuba, from whence we have received undoubted speci- 

 mens of its eggs. 



Lcotaud mentions this species as an irregular visitant of Trinidad, where it arrives 

 in small Hocks sonu^ years, and not at all in others. It usually came in August, and 

 left in October. Mr. Dresser met with a couple in (Jalveston Bay in June. J lis 

 boatman called them " Pillwillet," but did not confound them with the Ked Willct. 

 He said they were not a common species, but that one or two ])airs bred occasionally 

 on the outer island in West Bay. And Dr. Alerrill informs us that the Oyster 

 Catcher breeds on I'adre and Brazos islands, near the mouth of the Ilio Grande. 



Mr. H. Durnford ("'Ibis," 1878) mentions meeting with several pairs of this species 

 on Tombo Point in Central Patagonia, and evidently nesting, although he failed to 

 discover the eggs : this was in December. He also states that this bird occasionally 

 occurs at the mouth of the Chupat. The fact that it is found in the extreme southern 

 portion of South America is suggestive of its occurrence along the entire coast of tliat 

 continent ; and this is partially conhrmed by its presence on the ilarias, where Mr, 

 Grayson fouiul it common, as well as on the main (toast of Mexico on the Pacific. 



Giraud, in his "Birds of Long Island," mentions finding this species a rather 

 scarce bird on Long Island, although during the siunmcr a few maybe seen on almost 

 every beach, along the whole extent of its sea-coast. Tn pairs or in small parties it 

 frequents the sandy beaches or shoals in quest of its food, which consists chiefly of 

 mussels, small crabs, and marine insects. It is apparently confined to the coast, 

 and along that of New Jersey and farther south is more common. Giraud was in- 

 formed that at low water it visits the oyster-beds, awaiting a favorable opi)ortunity, 

 when the shells open, to thrust in its hard and strong bill o.nd to rob them of their 

 contents. Those seen on Long Island were usually solitary birds, or at most a pair 

 at any time, aiul were all between Baynor South and Babylon, in which section no 

 oysters are found. They were shy, vigilant, and exceedingly difhcult to approach. 

 Their flight is swift, and they have a stately walk. "When alarmed this bird utters 

 a sharp whistling note, and runs rapidly along the beach. Should the pursuit be 

 continued, it takes wing, and passes rapidly out of sight. Although its flesh ic dark 

 colored and ill-flavored, yet, as it is regarded as a singular as well as a rare bird, it is 

 always sent to the New York market by the Bay-men, by whom it is called the 

 " Flood Gull." Giraud adds that it forms no regular nest, but deposits its eggs — 

 usually three in number — on the sand, leaving them, in fine weather, during the 

 day to be hatched out by the influence of the sun. When Avounded, this bird always 

 makes for the water, in which it can both swim and dive well. In autumn it 

 migrates southward, and large numbers are said to winter in Florida, and at that 

 season to collect in flocks ; it is, however, said to be rare at St. Augustine. 



Wilson found it frequenting the sandy sea-beaches of New Jersey in small parties 

 of two or three pairs together. It was shy, and rarely permitted approach within 

 gunshot, except during the season of breeding. It walked along the shore in a 



