PLATE LXII, 



L'Hutrier. Brlf. em. 5. p. 3S.pl. 3. fig. 2. 

 Buff. oif.S.p. 119. pi. 9. 

 ■ — -pi. enU 929* 



The Oyfter-catcher is very common on fome of our fhores. It 

 feeds on marine infe&s and fhell-fifh ; chiefly on oyfters and limpets 

 When it finds an oyfter that gapes wide enough for the infertion 

 of it's bill, it thrufts it in and eats the fifh ; it's bill is well con- 

 ducted for this purpofe, it is flattened on the fides, for more than 

 half it's length, and by forcing it into the fhell fideways, it anfwers 

 the fame purpofe as a knife for opening it. In the winter thefe 

 birds are feen in confiderable flocks, in fummer only in pairs; at 

 this time they live in the neighbourhood of the fea and fait rivers. 

 The female lays four or five eggs on the bare ground, above high 

 water mark ; they are of a whitifh brown hue, thinly fpotted and 

 ftriped with black, according to Pennant ; Latham fays they are of a 

 greenifh grey blotched with black. 



It is mentioned by many authors and navigators as an inhabitant 

 of very diftant countries. It is common from New York to the 

 Bahama Ijlands * ; found alfo in New Holland t, New Zealand*, Ja- 

 pan §, &c. 



* Arcb. Zool. Catejby Car. I. 85. + Dampier voy. 3. pi. In 123. 



% Hawkfivortb v»y. z. p. 333. ^ Kampfer, Jap. up. 113. 



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