GRDS. 235 



Gen HsematopuS. — Linn. 



Bill straight, long, very slightly bent upwards ; nostrils linear in a 

 long cleft ; toes three, all placed forward, no hind toe. 



Haematopus OStralegUS, Lin.; Gould. R. Eur. pi. 300; Jerd. B. 

 Ind. iii. pp. 660, 661 ; Sir. F. i. p. 234 ; Murray, Hdhk., ZooL, Sfc, 

 Bind, p. 212.— The Qystee-Catchee. 



Entire head, neck, breast, npper back, scapulars and tail black > 

 lower orbital feathers white ; lower back, and entire lower parts white, 

 also a ring round the throat ; primaries black, the inner webs and 

 part of the outer webs of all, except the first two quills, white ; the 

 white on the outer webs of the innermost primaries spreading to the 

 edges > secondaries basally and narrowly at tip white, with a subter- 

 minal black band'j greater coverts and some of the secondaries and 

 lower tertiaries white, forming a large wing patch; lesser and primary 

 coverts black; bill orange yellow, or bright scarlet, 3'5 to 3'75 inches 

 long ; irides lake red ; orbits orange. 



Length. — 16 to 17 inches, wing 10'5, tail 4, tarsus 2'25. 



Sab. — Europe, Siberia, India, Ceylon, Afghanistan,. Beloochistan, 

 Persian Gulf, Sind, the Eastern and Western Coasts of India; in fact has 

 a very wide distribution. Inhabitants of the sea shores, being seldom 

 found inland. It lives chiefly on molluscs, worms, &o., and is said to 

 easily disengage limpets from the rocks, and to pluck out the oysters 

 from their half-opened shells, with its admirably adapted wedge-shaped 

 bill. Oyster-Catchers feed in the mornings and evenings, and also at 

 night,, and are at all times watchful and shy in their habits. 



Familjr, GRUID^. 



Bill long; mandibles equal; nostrils in a deep groove ; wings long; 

 tertials long ; tail short,, even ;■ tarsi long, scutelated. 



Grus. — Bill moderately long, straight, somewhat thick,, slightly 

 flattened at the base and curved to the tip ; 3rd and 4th quills of wing 

 longest ;. tail short ;. tarsi with transverse scales ;.hind toe very short. 



Grus autigone, Limi.;- Edw, B. pi. 45; Jerd. B. Lid. iii. p. 662; 

 Sir. F. vi. 458 > ikfiwra!/, Hdhk., Zool, ^c, Sind., p. 212. — The Saeus 

 Ceane, 



Head and neck naked, covered behind with numerous crimson papillse, 

 and clad with a few black hairs, which accumulate below on the neck, and 

 form a sort of mane down the nape of the neck ; ear-coverts white ; 

 below this the neck is whitish grey, which gradually passes into a blue 

 or French grey, which is the colour of the whole plumage; the quills and 

 inner webs of the tail feathers being dusky slaty ; seasonally it assumes 

 a pure white collar immediately below the crimson papillose ; skin of the 

 neck, and some of the tertiaries and scapulars become white, lengthened, 

 hang over gracefully and exceed the tail in length ; bill pale sea green, 

 brownish at the tip ; irides orange red ; legs and feet pale rosy red. 



Length. — 52 inches, wing 26, tail 925, bill at fi'ont 6-25, tarsi ]2*5 

 to 13. — (Jerdon)^ 



