382 APPENDIX 



Hub. — Temperate North America, breeding north to Newfound- 

 land and Manitoba, migrating to the West Indies and Central and 

 Northern South America and Bermuda. 



113. American Oyster Catcher. — Hamatopus palliatus. 



Head, neck, and upper breast black ; back and wing coverts 

 brown ; upper tail coverts white ; base of tail white ; lower breast and 

 belly white; bill red; legs and feet flesh color. Length, 17-21 in.; 

 wing, loX in. 



Hab. — Sea-coasts of temperate and tropical America from New 

 Jersey and Western Mexico to Patagonia ; occasional or accidental on 

 Atlantic Coast, north to Massachusetts and Grand Menon. 



114. Black Oyster Catcher. — Hamatopus bachmani. 



Head and neck black ; rest of plumage blackish brown ; bill red ; 

 legs and feet flesh color. Length, 17 in. ; wing, 9^ in. 



Hab. — Pacific Coast of North America from the Aleutian Islands 

 to La Paz, Lower California. 



Note, — " Oyster catchers are generally maritime birds, and resort to the outer 

 beaches in search of clams, mussels, etc. , exposed by the tide. Their strong 

 bill is used as an oyster knife to force open the shells of these bivalves." — Chap- 

 man. 



The Jacanas are the only remaining family of shore birds. Only 

 one of these, the Mexican Jacana is found in North America. 



Hab. — Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, south to Central America. 

 Of no importance to sportsmen. 



BOOK IV 



CRANES, COOTS, RAILS AND REED-BIRDS, WILD PIGEONS AND 



DOVES 



115. American Coot. — Fulica americana. 

 Mud-hen, Crow Duck. 



Plumage slate or blue black, paler below ; edge of wing and under 

 tail coverts white ; bill white; legs and feet gray green. Length, 15 

 in. ; wing, 7% in. Often called blue peter. 



Hab. — North America from Greenland and Alaska southward to 

 the West Indies and Central America. 



Note. — This bird is familiar to all duck shooters as the mud-hen. It flies 

 slowly a short distance above the water a,nA is not a difficult mark. It was not 



