GRA.LUE-CHARADRID.E-ILEMATOPUS. 
217 
GENUS ELEMATOPUS. Linpueus. 
Bill long, compressed, stout, cuneate; the tip much compressed. Nostrils basal, oblong- 
linear, pervious, placed in a short furrow. Feet three-toed; all directed forward: the 
outer and middle connected as far as the first joint: all the toes bordered with a narrow 
membrane. 
THE AMERICAN OYSTER-CATCHER. 
H^matopus palliatus. 
PLATE LXXX. FIC. 183. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Pied Oyster-catcher. Pennant. A ret. Zool. Vol. 2, p 489. 
II. o&trale gits. Wilson, Am. Ornithology, Vol. 8, pi C4, fig. 2. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. N. V. Vol. 
2, p. 3C0. Nuttall, Man. Orb. Vol. 2, pp. 12 ami 15. 
II. jialliatns. Temminck, Man Orn. Vol 2. p. 532. 
II. id. Bonaparte, Oss. sulla scronda ediiione del Regno Animale, p. 94. Id. Grog, and Comp. List, p. 46. 
II. id. Audubon, Birds of Am. Vol. 5, p. 236, pi. 324. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 222. 
Characteristics. Head, neck and throat brownish black. Back, scapularies and wings ash- 
brown. The first three primaries of a uniform color. Length, 18 - 0. 
Description. Bill stout, and particularly so at its deepest part. Naked portion of the 
tibia, and the tarsus with hexagonal scales. Wings long and pointed; the first quills longest. 
Tail short, somewhat rounded, of twelve rounded feathers. 
Color. Bill red. Feet reddish. Head, neck and throat glossy black : lower eyelids white. 
Tips of the secondary coverts, outer secondaries, and breast and all bencatli pure white. 
Irides yellow. Base of the tail-feathers white ; beyond ibis, ashy brown. 
Length, 17’0-19'0. 
The Oyster-catcher, or as it is better known among our gunners by the name of Flood 
Gull, is not very common on the coast of this Slate. Its eggs are cream-colored, spotted 
with brownish black. Jt feeds on oysters and other marine bivalves. The flesh is tough and 
unsavory. It breeds from Texas to Labrador, and ranges from the tropics to the fifty-second 
parallel. 
(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 
II. bachmani. ( Aud. Birds of Am Vol. 5, p. 243, pi 325.) Bill and edges of the eyelids vermilion. 
General color uniform brownish black. Feet whitish. Length, 17'5. Northwest Coast. 
H. townseadi. (Id. ib. Vol 5, p. 245, pi. 326 ) Uniform brownish black. Wing-coverts narrowly 
edged with white. Feet red. Length, 20*0; of bill, 3*3. Northwest Coast. 
[Fauna — Part 2.] 28 
