346 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



opening oysters, mussels, and other shell-fish left on the shore by the 

 receding tide. Few things are more interesting than to see them 

 hovering over the retiring water, alternately advancing and retreating 

 with the waves. As their toes are united at the base by a web or 

 membrane, they possess the power of resting on the water, although 

 they do not actually swim. This they make use of by allowing them- 

 selves every now and then to be carried to some distance from the 

 shore by the receding wa^es. They fly well, and can run with the 

 greatest ease. Numerous flocks of them are found on almost every 

 sea-coast on the globe, making the neighbourhood re-echo with their 

 shrill cries. 



In the breeding season they pair off; the female birds lay from 



Common Oyster-catcher. 



two to four eggs, either in holes carelessly scratched out on the strand, 

 in clefts of the rocks, or even sometimes in meadows. 



They assemble in considerable flocks for the purpose of migration, 

 — if that term may be applied to the short j ourneys which they annually 

 undertake. 



There are three or four species of this family, only one of which, 

 our Common Oyster-catcher (Hcematopus ostralegus, Fig. 138), is a 

 native of Europe. The plumage of the latter is white and black, 

 which, joined to its noisy habits, has obtained for it the nickname of 

 Sea Magpie. Its bill and feet are of a beautiful red colour ; hence 

 the name of Hcematopus (feet the colour of blood) was given by 

 Linnaeus to the whole genus, when the other varieties of it were yet 

 unknown. It is found at all seasons on most of our coasts. As an 

 article of food it is not at all desirable. 



