250 CHAEABKIID^. 



Subfamily H^matopodin^. 

 Genus H^MATOPUS Luinmus, Syst. Nat. 1758, p. 152. 

 Type : H. ostralegvs Linn. 



Hxmatopus = with 'blood-coloured feet ; from alfia and ttoOs. 



Haematopus ostralegus. Oyster-catchee. 



Hsematopus ostralegus Linnceus, Syst. Nat. 1758, 

 p. 152 : Sweden. 



Hsematopus ostralegus Linn. ; B. O. TT. List, 1st ed. 1883, p. 162 ; 

 Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xxiv. 1896, p. 107; Saimders^ 

 Manual, 2nd ed. 1899, p. 559. 



Ostralegus, from ostrea = an oyster, and lego = I pick. This species really 

 picks mfUssels from the rocks. 



Distribution in the British Islands. — A Resident, breeding 

 on the coasts of England and Wales, but local on the 

 eastern and southern shores. In Scotland and in Ireland it 

 is plentiful, and nests not only in the maritime districts, but 

 also inland along the shingly banks of rivers and lochs. In 

 autumn and winter it is more widely distributed, and it& 

 numbers are greatly increased by continental visitors. 



General Distribution. — The Oyster-Catcher inhabits Europe 

 and central Asia, ranging southwards in winter to the 

 Mediterranean, north Africa, the Red sea, and north-west 

 India. It is represented in eastern Siberia and Kamchatka 

 by a closely allied race, H. o. osadans, which winters in south 

 China and Burma ; other allied forms inhabit the Moluccan 

 and Papuan Islands, Australia, New Zealand, and North 

 and South America. 



Subfamily AuENARiiN^. 



Genus ARENARIA Brisson, Orn. v. 1760, p. 132. 

 Type : ..4. interpres (Linn.). 

 Arenuria = a bird of the sand (arena). 



