112 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



down to the ground and spreading out his ruflf and 

 ear-tufts to the fullest extent. And in this position 

 he will stand for a minute or more, as if to give the 

 female time to admire him, though, as often as not, she 

 quietly walks oif as soon as she sees that he is too ab- 

 sorbed in his ceremonial to notice whether she is look- 

 ing or not. See Plate 31, Fig. 181. 



The Redshank brings us back to the more normal 

 Wading-birds. The name is derived from the orange 

 colour of the legs. This bird is common in many parts 

 of the Old World, but is not known in America. Al- 

 though it has distinct summer and winter plumage, 



■ 



these do not differ conspicuously. The lower part of 

 the back is always white. See Plate 32, Fig. 182. 



The American Oyster-catcher is a strictly marine 

 bird of this tribe, so called from its habit of feeding 

 upon small oysters, clams and other mollusks found 

 along beaches, using its strong beak to force open the 

 shells. It breeds on the coast as far north as southern 

 New Jersey and is fairly common. Three species are 

 found in America, the Black Oyster-catcher having 

 entirely black plumage, with red bill, feet and eyes. 



Several species of Curlew are native to this country, 

 the largest of which is the Long-billed, found chiefly 

 in the interior as far north as Manitoba, but also seen 

 along the coast. The beak is long and curved like that 

 of an Ibis. The colouration is black and buff above, 

 the tail barred with the same colours, the under parts 

 buff, streaked with darker colour. This is the largest 

 of American shore-birds, measuring about two feet in 

 length, the long, pointed wings spreading about forty t 



