PLOVERS 31 



The nest of the Pied Oyster-catcher is a sh'ght 

 hollow among pebbles or gravel above high-water 

 mark, or on coarse ground not far from the tide. 

 The eggs are large, from three to four of them, 

 arranged with the smaller ends together, being 

 greyish-yellow marked all over with dots, spots, and 

 blotches of blackish-brown and amber, with some 

 streaks of the same colour. 



This handsome black - and - white wader and 

 swimmer is called Sea-pie on the south coast, where 

 it is only a visitor, and Mussel-picker in Scotland, 

 where it is found all the year round. At times 

 these birds gather in vast numbers, particularly in 

 Sutherland, and as they are not interfered with, the 

 vast flocks are quite fearless. Sea-pie is far more 

 appropriate as a name for the bird than Oyster- 

 catcher, for strong as the bill is, and used by the 

 bird in the most able manner, oysters are safe from it. 



This bird may be seen at times with other fowl in 

 the markets, but I think they are sent to hang up 

 only to attract notice to more valuable birds by 

 their very conspicuous plumage. In their haunts 

 they enliven by their active movements and loud 

 cries some very lonely places, where more seals can 

 be seen than men. 



It breeds on the stony or sandy beaches of the 

 rivers in Scotland, in fact it is a common bird there ; 

 so very common in some parts, that no more notice 

 is taken of finding a clutch of their handsome eggs 

 on the shingle, than there would be in southern 

 counties in finding a Thrush's nest. 



