lOO THE SPECIES. 



Hsematopus. Plate xxvi. CHARADRIIDM. 



303. ostraleguSf 16 in. Oystercatcher. Black and white ; bill orange ; 



remiges 29, the 26th at the elbow, and equal in 



length to the third primary ; legs flesh-colour ; 



tarsus reticulate all round. 



The Oystercatcher— Dimensions, Nf; Eggs, Om — derives its generic name from its red 



^' foot, and its specific name from its gathering shells with which to line the hollow in the beach 



*^ it uses as a nest. In the spring there are chestnut markings on the back, which are absent in 



the winter plumage. The flight is a strong, skimming one, with rapid wing work. The call 



is a shrill "keep, keep." There are from two to four eggs, in colour resembling the pebbles 



with which, and the shells, it lines its nest. 



Haliaetus. Plate xv. FALCONIDM, 



180. albicilla^ 34 in. Sea Eagle. Bill yellow ; head ashy brown ; 

 brown above ; dark brown below ; 27 remiges ; 

 fifth primary longest, first primary equal to eighth, 

 and second longer than seventh ; tail wedge-shaped 

 and white. 

 ^ . The Sea Eagle —Dimensions, Sr ; Eggs, Rt — is the bird beloved of sculptors and plasterers, 



•^ who will never feather an eagle to the toes if they can help it. In its flight its wings seem to 



curve upwards at the points, as it gives a few regular flaps, and then sails along, with feet 

 and head short in, and wings full out. Its cry is a peculiar " yelp." The sexes are alike in 

 plumage. The nest is occasionally in a tree, but generally on a lofty ledge in some pre- 

 cipitous cliff" ; and it is built of sticks and twigs, and turf and seaweed, being sometimes six 

 feet across. There are one, two, or three eggs, and these are much rougher in texture than 

 those of the Golden Eagle. 



Harelda. Plate xxii. A NAT I DM. 



251. glacialis, 26 in. Long-tailed Duck. Head white ; cheeks brown : 



back black ; remiges 26 ; tail blackish. 

 '^. The Long-tailed Duck — Dimensions, RI ; Eggs, Ob — is one of our regular winter visitors, 



and is generally recognisable by its peculiar cry, which has been rendered as " coal an' candle 

 licht !" The male's beak is black and orange ; the female's is bluish grey. The male is 

 unmistakable in winter, owing to his two long black tail feathers. The female is browner 

 than the male, with a brown patch on the side of the neck. Both sexes have a swift and 

 rolling flight. 



Himantopus. Plate xxvii. SCOLOPACIDM. 



305. Candidas, 13 in. Black-winged Stilt. Head and neck white ; 

 black and white above ; white below ; bill black, 

 pointed, and straight, and twice as long as head ; 

 remiges 29 ; legs pink, web extending down the 

 toes but incised almost to the base. 

 The Black-winged Stilt — Dimensions, Lc ; Eggs, Ls — has come here at long intervals for a 

 very long time, but has apparently never bred here. Its very long legs render it unmistakable. 



Uirundo. Plate vi. HIRUNDININM (Passeridae). 



83. riparia, 5 in. SAND Martin. Brown above ; rump brown ; 



white below ; brown band across chest ; legs 

 brown. 

 82. urbica, $\ in. Martin. Blue black above ; rump white ; white 



below ; no band across chest ; toes feathered. 



84. purpurea, 6| in. Purple Martin. Purplish blue body ; brownish 



black wings and tail ; small white patch under 

 wings ; legs purple. 

 81. rustica, 'j\ in. Swallow. Blue black above ; rump blue ; white 



below ; throat chestnut ; legs black. 



The Sand Martin— Dimensions, Bg ; Eggs, Bu — arrives here during the last week of 



\y March and leaves us in October. It has a light, skimming, fluttering flight. Tlie song is a 



iwitter, and the alarm a ''share." The female's throat band is narrower than the male's, 



