92 FEATHERED GAME 
tent frequent the inland country, scarcely ever 
going farther from the sea than does the tide 
water in the rivers. 
All along the eastern shores of the two 
Americas this bird is found, northward to Lab- 
rador or farther in the summer months, and 
wintering from the Middle Atlantic States to 
and beyond the tropics, far down the South 
American coast. It is also found on the Pacific 
side of the continents, but the more common 
species there is the Black Oyster Catcher. 
The Oyster Catcher’s bill is remarkably stout 
and well fitted for its purpose, that is, for driv- 
ing into ‘‘sea urchins,’’ knocking ‘‘wrinkles’’ 
off the rocks and burrowing into the sand for 
razor fish and small crabs, for he eats any of 
the marine shellfish which he can capture. 
The bird is large and showy, and as it be- 
hooves him for his safety’s sake, wary in pro- 
portion as he looms above his shore-bird neigh- 
bors. Searcely to be approached at any 
season, few are captured and they are fairly 
earned by good and careful work. Decoys and 
enticing whistlings avail naught, for the bird 
is either unsocial or aristocratic and well sat- 
isfied with his own society. 
