THE OYSTER-CATCHER. 127 



opercula of large whelks ; about twenty-five animals of well-sized 

 limpets {Patella vulgaris) ; in addition to which was a holothuria 

 (Cucumaria). In others, not particularly noted down, I have 

 found the flesh of the mussel ; but univalve shell-fish, and more 

 particularly the whelk, are certainly their chief food in Belfast 

 bay. In no instance have I found any particles of shell, which 

 affords the negative evidence that the animals were all extracted 

 from their habitations by the bird, whose peculiarly formed bill is 

 admirably suited to such a purpose ; i. e. for " picking wilks ! " 

 On the same bank with the mussels {Mytilus edulis), univalves are 

 also found. Wilson, in his very interesting account of the nearly 

 allied Hamatqptis palliatus (the representative of our species on 

 the shores of the United States), mentions his having remarked 

 numerous borings made by the bill of the bird in the sand. 

 Remembering this, I on one occasion, after observing several 

 oyster-catchers feeding for some time on the sands at Ballyholme 

 bay, went to the spot to examine if any excavations of the kind 

 were visible ; but none appeared. A few of the fresh double valves 

 of Venus virginea were lying about, and it was believed that the 

 birds had been preying on the once contained animals, as these 

 had disappeared. 



Although the oyster-catcher is known to be able to dive well, 

 it may be mentioned that an intelligent shooter of my acquaint- 

 ance has witnessed its remaining as long under water as one of 

 the diving ducks (Fuligula). He has seen one for about half an 

 hour dive repeatedly — whenever approached — until disabled by 

 the blow of an oar. A singular instance of the tenacity of 

 life (if it may so be termed) of one of these birds occurred in the 

 shop of Mr. Nichol, bird preserver, &c. at Belfast, in Feb. 1849. 

 A man brought a wounded one to be stuffed ; but was told that 

 it must first be put out of pain. To accomplish this object, he 

 pressed the breast-bone towards the back with his hand until the 

 bird apparently ceased to breathe, and then leaving it on the 

 counter, a corpse, as he thought, took his departure. It soon, 

 however, exhibited symptoms of life, and made its way from the 

 counter to the ground. Within a very few hours it partook of 



