Order  VII.  GRALLJE. 
Family  I.  CharadripvE. 
The  fifth  Subfamily, 
HiEMATOPODIN^E,  or  Oyster-catchers, 
have  the  Bill  lengthened,  strong,  with  the  apical  half  much  compressed  to  the  tip,  which  is  obtuse ; 
the  Nostrils  linear,  and  placed  in  a  membranous  lateral  groove :  the  Wings  long  and  pointed :  the 
Tail  moderate :  the  Tarsi  robust,  and  covered  with  small  scales :  the  Toes  three ;  the  lateral  toes  united 
at  the  base  by  a  membrane,  especially  the  outer  one :  the  Claws  strong,  broad,  and  curved. 
Hjematopus  Linn.* 
Bill  longer  than  the  head,  strong,  straight,  with  the  culmen  slightly  depressed  at  the  base,  and  the 
apical  portion  much  compressed  to  the  tip,  which  is  obtuse  ;  the  nostrils  placed  in  a  lateral  membranous 
groove,  which  reaches  nearly  to  the  middle  of  the  bill,  with  the  opening  linear.  Wings  long,  with 
the  first  quill  the  longest.  Tail  moderate  and  even,  or  slightly  rounded.  Tarsi  strong,  longer  than 
the  middle  toe,  and  covered  with  small  reticulated  scales.  Toes  moderate,  strong;  the  lateral  toes 
united  to  the  middle  toe  by  a  basal  membrane,  especially  the  outer:  the  claws  strong,  broad,  and 
slightly  curved. 
The  species  of  this  genus  are  distributed  in  most  parts  of  the  Old  and  New  Worlds.  They  live  solitary,  or  in  small 
parties,  on  the  sea  shores  or  salt  marshes,  seeking  their  food,  which  consists  of  various  bivalve  mollusca,  from  the 
retreating  surf,  or  probing  the  moist  mud  or  sand  with  their  bills.  The  animal  is  obtained  by  breaking  the  shell,  or,  if 
too  strong  for  this  process,  by  inserting  the  compressed  ends  of  their  mandibles  between  the  valves  :  the  same  means 
are  employed  to  remove  the  limpets,  which  are  generally  firmly  attached  to  the  rocks,  and  the  animals  of  which  they 
scoop  out  with  their  bills.  They  perform  periodical  migrations  in  large  flocks  ;  and  their  flight  is  strong,  swift,  and 
capable  of  being  long  continued.  They  possess  the  power  of  swimming  from  one  place  to  another,  and  even  dive 
should  they  wish  to  seek  safety  when  wounded  or  alarmed.  The  nest  is  formed  without  care  on  the  bare  shingles  of 
the  sea  shore,  or  in  such  scanty  herbage  as  sometimes  grows  about  high-water  mark,  or  in  the  salt  marshes.  The 
female  usually  deposits  four  eggs. 
*  Established  by  Linnaeus  in  1735.    Ostralega  of  Brisson  (1760)  is  synonymous. 
