ZOOLOGY. 



109 



position, the bird is abie to cover them more effectually, 

 whilst incubating. The flesh of all is excellent. 



% Cusorius. Courser. Bill round, incurvated near the 

 tip, pointed; gaps large ; tongue sharp : nostrils ovate; 

 feet and toes as in the last genus ; with which it agrees 

 in habits, (fee, and has only recently been separated from 

 that genus, on account of the difference in the struc* 

 ture of their hills* 



The only species has been occasionally found in this 

 country. 



13. Hcematopus. Oyster-catcher. Bill lop.g, compress- 

 ed, wedge-shaped at the tip ; 7io sir il s WviQ^r ; tongue 

 triangular, about one third the length of the bill • feet 

 three toed ; the outer toe connected by a membrane to 

 the middle one, as far as the first joint. 



Frequents the sea-shores, and salt-water inlets, feeds on 

 shell fish, particularly limpets, ivjiich it detaches from stone? 

 by insinuating its wedge-like bill under the edges of the shelfj 

 or by a sudden blow with its bill, which often perforates the 

 shell, and it then devours the animal at its leisure ; it 

 derives its name of Oyster-catcher, from its devouring those 

 in common with most other kinds of bivalve testaceous ani- 

 mals ; the instant it perceives the Oyster opening its shell, 

 it thrusts in its bill (the point of which is hard and very 

 sharp,) and draws out the animal. There is one native 

 Sj)ecies, Br Hi sh Ornithology ^ vol. I, 



