H^, MAT OP US OSTRALEGUS. 



PIED OrSTER- CAT CHE R. 



Generic Character. 



Bill long, comprefTed, channelled. 

 Noftrils linear. 



Tongue triangular, one-third the length of the bill. 



Toes three, the outer connected to the middle one as 

 far as the firft joint, by a membrane, which com- 

 pletely edges the toes. 



Synonyms. 



Hjematopus Ostralegus. Lin, Syft. 1. p. 257* 

 Sea Pie or Pied Oyster-Catcher. Br- Z00L 2. f. 



213. tab. 74, lath. Syn. 5. p. 219. tab, 84. 



Mont, Orn. Dicl. 

 Oyster-Catcher. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p. 23* 



iimiMgH'iiwiwi" 



T HE Oyste r-Catcher is in length fevent'een inches, 

 breadth two feet fix inches, it weighs from fixteen to twenty, 

 two ounces ; bill ftraight, about three inches long, channelled 

 the whole length, point obtufe ; thighs bare of feathers to 

 midway above the knees • the toes have a narrow membraneous 

 edging, which is finely ferrated, and continues rather more 

 than half an inch up the inner fide of the legs. 



The principal food of this bird is oyfters and limpets, which 

 it readily detaches from the rocks with its bill ; it will wait 

 by the fide of an oyfter for a long time, watching its opening, 

 ancj the inftant the fhells are obferved to feparate, it thrufts in 



its 



