FBAZAE OYSTEB-CATCHEE 503 



fornia, its range is overlapped by that of the Black Oyster-catcher 

 for several hundred miles. There are but three records of this species 

 being found within our borders. These are as follows: Ventura 

 County, "seen occasionally along the seacoast in summer" (Ever- 

 mann, 1886, p. 92) ; Santa Barbara Island, June 2, 1863, adult female 

 containing an egg ready for extrusion, and San Diego, May 16, 1862, 

 adult female (Cooper in Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, 1884, I, pp. 

 113-114; specimens now in Mus. Vert. Zool.) ; White's Landing, Santa 

 Catalina Island, one seen February 12, 1910 (Osburn, 1911a., p. 76). 

 The last cited instance is subject to some doubt. 



From other shore birds occurring in California the Frazar Oyster- 

 catcher is distinguished by its large size (about that of Hudsonian 

 Curlew but stouter), large, straight and thick, reddish bill, and dark- 

 colored head and back with conspicuous white markings on wing 

 and "rump", and pure white hinder part of under surface. Prom 

 the Black Oyster-catcher this species may be known by the presence 

 of the conspicuous white markings just mentioned. 



But little has been placed on record concerning the Frazar Oyster- 

 catcher, probably because it was for a long time considered identical 

 with the Oyster-catcher of eastern North America, which was already 

 well known, and again because the Frazar occupies a region not often 

 visited by naturalists. It inhabits by preference oifshore islets, of 

 which there are many along the coast of Lower California. There 

 it feeds on the various marine animals found on rocks, such as 

 barnacles, other Crustacea, and moUusks. Its stout bill is admirably 

 adapted for the work of dislodging such creatures. 



The Frazar Oyster-catcher nests on the same rocky islands that 

 form its forage grounds at all times of the year. Kaeding (1905, p. 

 Ill) states that on several islands off the coast of central Lower Cali- 

 fornia eggs of this species were taken in various stages of incubation 

 about June 25, 1897, which would indicate that the nesting season 

 is fully as late or even later than that of the Black Oyster-catcher 

 (which see). "W. B. Bryant (1889, p. 276) records finding this species 

 common on Santa Margarita Island and vicinity. Lower California, 

 where the birds "... were mated [that is, in pairs] in January. They 

 were rather shy, running rapidly on the beach, and if approached, 

 taking wing with loud, clear, whistling notes, and after flying some 

 distance, alighting again at the water's edge." 



As it has been but seldom observed within our limits, and is not 

 likely to extend its range beyond its present southern habitat, the 

 Frazar Oyster-catcher cannot be looked upon as more than a rarity 

 in California, and the interest which we take in it is almost exclusively 

 scientific. 



