245 



TOWNSEND'S OYSTER-CATCHER. 



+H-EMATOPUS ToWNSENDI, Jlud. 



PLATE CCCXXVL— Female. 



A specimen of this species, which very closely resembles the last, but is 

 much larger, and differs in its proportions, was also forwarded to me by Mr. 

 Townsend, but without any notice respecting its habits or distribution. I 

 have compared it with some specimens brought from the coast of California, 

 with which it agrees in all respects. It is not improbable however, that, 

 like our Hsetnatopus palliatus, which in summer extends from the shores 

 of South America to those of Labrador, the present species, as well as H. 

 Bachmani, courses the shores of the Pacific Ocean to a very high latitude. 

 I have taken the liberty of naming it after its discoverer. 



Townsend's Oyster-catcher, Hcematopus Toxcnsendi, And. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 247. 



Female, 20; wing 11; bill 3 T 2 2 -. 



Coast of California, and along the shores of the North Pacific, southward 

 and northward. Rather common. Migratory. 



Male. 



Bill long, slender but strong, slightly recurved, or ascending, beyond the 

 nostrils, about the same height and breadth at the base, toward the end 

 extremely compressed, terminating in an exceedingly thin wedge shaped 

 point. Upper mandible with the dorsal line at the base straight and slightly 

 sloping, a little arched beyond the nostrils, then nearly straight and sloping 

 to the point, the ridge broad and flattened as far as the prominence, after- 

 wards extremely narrow, the sides sloping at the base, perpendicular towards 

 the end, the edges sharp, direct, and about the middle slightly overlapping. 

 Nasal groove basal, long; nostrils sub-basal, in the middle of the groove 

 near the margin, linear, direct, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle 

 rather short and narrow, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the 

 ridge very narrow, the sides erect and nearly flat, with a shallow groove at 

 the base, the edges sharp and direct. 



Head of moderate size, ovate, the forehead convex. Neck rather long. 

 Feet of moderate length, rather stout, tibia bare for three-quarters of an inch; 

 tarsus of moderate length, somewhat compressed, covered all round with 



Vol. V. 34 



