178 THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



but appears constantly to differ from the Common Oystercatcher 

 in having much less white on the quills, the white on the outer 

 web of the primaries beginning on the sixth feather instead of on 

 the third, and on the inner web commencing on the second 

 feather instead of on the first ; more variable characters are (in 

 adults) the upper tail coverts tipped with black, and the slightly 

 longer bill (young of the Common Oystercatcher have the longest 

 upper tail coverts tipped with black and buff). Should be 

 looked for, especially in autumn, on the British coasts. 



Time during which the Common Oystercatcher may 

 be taken. — August ist to March ist. 



Habits. — Although the Oystercatcher is sometimes met with 

 on the banks of inland waters, and even breeds in such localities, 

 its true home is the sea-shore. Here it prefers a rocky coast, which 

 is varied here and there with long reaches of sand and shingle, 

 and broken with quiet bays, and creeks, and lochs, where a con- 

 siderable amount of beach is uncovered at low water. It is also 

 very partial to low, rocky islands and headlands where there is a 

 beach. It is one of the wariest birds of the shore, seldom 

 allowing a near approach, unless stalked with scrupulous care and 

 patience. As it is very regular in its flights to certain feeding 

 grounds, which are visited as soon as the rocks and beach begin 

 to be exposed by the receding tide, it may be waited for with 

 advantage by the gunner stationed in a suitable spot. During high 

 water, especially in localities where there is little beach, it spends 

 the time between the tides on small islands, and even on rocks 

 surrounded by the sea. Even during summer the Oystercatcher 

 is somewhat sociably inclined, but in winter, when many of 

 the birds draw southwards, it often forms into flocks which 

 roam the coasts for miles in quest of food. In autumn its 

 numbers are increased by migrants from Continental Europe, 

 and it is often caught in the flight nets on the Wash during 

 October. The Oystercatcher may be watched running and 

 walking very daintily about the sands and over the seaweed- 

 covered rocks, sometimes wading through the shallows, but it 

 never appears to swim unless wounded. The long, chisel-shaped 

 beak is thrust into the crevices of the rocks, or probed into the 

 sand in quest of prey, and the limpets, tightly as they cling to 



