AMERICAN OYSTER CATCHER 93 
The coloring of this species is arranged in 
solid masses and is sharply contrasted. The 
bill is long and heavy, chisel pointed, deepest at 
a point one-third of its length from the head, 
and in color bright red, growing orange yellow 
at the tip. Head, neck and fore breast black. 
Back and wings dusky brown. The rump 
mainly like the back, but on the edges of the 
tail coverts growing white, this color also show- 
ing on the bases of the tail feathers, and these 
going through the shades of brown and dusky 
to jet black at the tips. Wings like the back 
in color, with a crossbar of white formed by the 
ends of the greater coverts and some of the 
secondaries. Linings of the wings and entire 
under parts white. Eyes red with a circle of 
orange about them. Feet and legs stout, of a 
pale pinkish color. The length of this species 
varies from seventeen to twenty inches, and its 
spread of wings between thirty-three and thir- 
ty-five inches. 
There are several other species of oyster 
catchers. Nearly every sea coast in the world 
affords them sustenance and is inhabited by 
some member of the family. 
