114 PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



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

 The birds were aloue, or rather, were associating with the black species only ; but 

 not in pairs, as they did. From this Dr. Cooper supposed that it is a mere straggler 

 on the Pacitic 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 mollusca, and very wild. They 

 swallowed small shell-covered animals, either entire or partially 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 whenc'e we have received undoubted speci- 

 mens of its eggs. 



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

 in small flocks some years, and not at all in others. It usually came in August, and 

 left in October. Mr. Dresser met with a couple in Galveston Bay in June. His 

 boatman called them " Pillwillet," but did not confound them with the Red Willet. 

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

 on the outer island in AVest Bay. And Dr. Merrill informs us that the Oyster 

 Catcher breeds on Padre and Brazos islands, near the mouth of the Eio Grande. 



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

 on Tombo Point in Central Patagonia, and evitleiitly 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 that 

 continent; aud this is partially confirmed by its presence on the Marias, where Mr. 

 Grayson found it common, as well as on the main coast of Mexico on the Pacitic. 



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

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

 every beach, along the whole extent of its sea-coast. In 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 tliat 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 opportunity, 

 when the shells ojien, to thrust in its hard and strong bill and to rob them of their 

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

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

 oysters are found. They were shy, vigilant, and exceedingly difiicult 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. jUtliough its flesh is 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 numlier — on the sand, leaving them, in fine weather, during the 

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

 makes for the water, in which it can botli swim and dive well. In autunni 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 



