AMERICAN OYSTER CATCHER 91 
Its markings and peculiarities: bill black, 
long for this family, thick and large. Fore- 
head white, this color carried back over the 
eyes to the nape. Top of the head brownish 
gray, blackening at the forehead; the nape 
same color as the top of the head. Blackish 
stripe from the base of the bill to the eye but 
not beyond. Throat and entire under parts ex- 
cept the half collar of black are pure white, the 
white of the throat completely encircling the 
neck. Primaries blackish, lighter at the bases, 
inner ones with outer edges of white. Central 
tail feathers dusky, darkening toward the ends 
and white-tipped. Outer pair or so white. 
Female much like the male except that the 
black markings have become a rusty brown in 
her dress. 
AMERICAN OYSTER CATCHER. 
(Hematopus palliatus.) 
The American Oyster Catcher is but seldom 
seen on the coast of northern New England, 
probably being scarcer on these ranges than 
in any. other part of his habitat. It does not 
gather into large flocks nor does it to any ex- 
