OYSTERCATCHER. 135 
OYSTERCATCHER. 
HmMatopus ostraLecus, Linn. 
Pl. XX., figs. 5, 6. 
_ Geogr. distr.—Almost the entire Palearctic region; generally 
distributed in Europe; Asia as far south as Ceylon; in the winter 
ranging far down the African coast: occurs in almost all parts of the 
British coast, especially in the north. 
Food.—Mollusca, Crustacea, and other marine animals; when 
domesticated, fish refuse and insects of all kinds. 
Nest.—A mere depression, lined with a few straws or fragments of 
plants, shells, gravel, or stones. 
Position of nest.—Amongst shingle or gravel, just above high-water 
mark; in short, stunted thrift, or on a tussock of sea-pink, 
Number of eggs.—8-4; usually 3. 
Time of nidification—IV-V1; end of May or June. 
This bird is often tamed and turned loose in a garden, 
where it is very useful in destroying worms, woodlice, ear- 
wigs, and other pests, with which it will gorge itself until 
unable to look at another without abhorrence. It has been 
known to live in confinement for thirty years, and there- 
fore the good which it is capable of is incalculable. 
It is moreover not only an ornament to a garden, but a 
great source of amusement, even its manner of tripping 
along being ludicrous. An aunt of my wife has one of 
these birds in company with a Gull in her garden, and the 
strong-billed bird generally keeps the Oystercatcher at a 
respectful distance until it has selected the choicest morsels, 
but sometimes the latter approaches stealthily and scampers 
off with a dainty fragment whilst the Gull is occupied. 
Mr. Howard Saunders says :—“ Although principally 
found on or near the coast, it is a mistake to suppose that 
the Oystercatcher does not straggle inland, for examples 
have been killed even in the Midland Counties. In Scot- 
land many pairs breed on the Don, the Tay, the Spey, the 
Findhorn, and on some island lochs twenty or thirty miles 
from the sea.’’—(Yarrell’s Hist. Brit. Birds, 4th ed., vol. 
lii., p. 295.) 
Oystercatchers are said to be always more or less gre- 
garious in their habits, and to be very difficult to satisfy in 
the preparation of their nest, several being completed and 
deserted, all apparently as good as the one in which they lay. 
