OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 123 



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 slightly longer bill. The 

 young of the Common Oyster-catcher have the longest upper tail coverts tipped 

 with black and buflf. This race should be looked for, especially in autumn, on 

 the British coasts. H. longirostris, an inhabitant of the coasts of New Zealand, 

 Tasmania, Australia, and the southern shores of New Guinea. Distinguished by 

 its white rump and absence of white from the primaries. 



Habits. — ^Although the Oyster-catcher is 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 considerable amount of beach is uncovered at low water. It is also 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 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 sur- 

 rounded by the sea. Even during summer the Oyster-catcher 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 Oyster- 

 catcher 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 the rocks, are wrenched off with ease. The 

 Oyster-catcher is much attached to its mate, and I have seen it fly round and 

 round above a fallen companion in a touching manner. The flight of this 

 bird is rapid and powerful, full of impetuous dash, performed by quick and 

 regular strokes of the long wings, but sometimes before alighting the bird 

 skims along for a few yards on stiff and motionless pinions. Its actions in the 

 air are often erratic, the flight being full of sudden turns and twists. The 

 note of the Oyster-catcher is characteristic, and cannot readily be confused 

 with that of any other species on the coast. It is a loud, shrill heep-heep keep, 

 usually uttered by the bird during flight, often as it rises in haste from the beach, 

 and alarming all other fowl within hearing. I have often had a long, patient 

 stalk after Curlew, spoiled, just when success seemed certain, by the warning pipe 



