OYSTER-CATCHER. 



351 



peated strokes of its pointed bill. This is a common species in almost 

 every part of England, as well as throughout Europe, and is said to 

 inhabit the Cape of Good Hope. 



OYSTER-CATCHER (Hcematopus ostralegus, Linnaeus.) 



Hasmatopus ostralegus, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 257 Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 694. — Baii, Syn. 



p. 105. A. 7 — Haematopus Belonii, Will. p. 129 lb. p. 220. t. 55.— Lath. 



Ind. Orn. 2. p. 752 — Temm. Man. d'Orn. 2. p. 531 Ostralega, seu Pica ma- 

 rina, Briss. 5. p. 38. t. 3. f. 2 lb. 8vo. 2. p. 221 L'Huitrier, Buff. Ois. 8. 



p. 119. t. 9 — Sea-Pie, or Pied Oyster-catcher, Br. Zool. 2. p. 213. t. 74 — lb. 



fol. 127. t. D. 2 Will. (Angl.) p. 297.— Albin, 1. t. 78.— Hayes, Br. Birds, 



t. 12.— Lath. Syn. 5. p. 219. t. 84 —Lewins Br. Birds, 5. t. 188.— Wale. Syn. 

 2. t. 166.— Don. Br. Birds, 3. t. 62.— Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 15.— Flem. Br. 

 Anim. p. 115. 



Provincial. — Pienet. Olive. 



The weight of the Pied Oyster-catcher is about seventeen ounces ; 

 length sixteen inches ; bill three inches long, straight, compressed ; the 

 tip wedge-shaped, the colour orange ; irides crimson ; orbits orange- 

 yellow ; the head, neck, upper part of the back, scapulars, and lesser 

 wing coverts black ; a small spot of white under the eyelid, and a 

 crescent of the same across the throat ; but this last is by no means a 

 general character, for in more than twenty specimens we never have 

 found it, although such are to be seen in different collections. The 

 greater coverts are white, the next above them tipped with white ; the 

 quills are black, with more or less white on the inner webs ; the lower 

 part of the back, rump, breast, and under parts are white ; the base 

 of the tail is white, the end black ; legs red orange ; claws black. 



This bird is common on our shores, but never quits the sea-coast. 

 In winter they assemble in small flocks. Their principal food is marine 

 insects and shell-fish ; and from their adroitness in getting at an oyster, 

 they have taken this name. This, however, can only be done when the 

 shells are partly open ; it is then the bill is inserted to kill the oyster. 

 It makes no nest, but deposits its eggs on the bare ground above 

 high-water mark ; generally four, of an olivaceous-brown, blotched with 

 black, somewhat larger than that of the lapwing. At the time of incu- 

 bation the male is very watchful, and upon the least alarm runs off with 

 a loud scream, upon which the female instantly runs from her eggs to 

 some distance, and then takes wing. It is a shy bird, but when the young 

 are hatched becomes bolder. The young is capable of running as soon 

 as it quits the egg, and is led by the parent birds to its proper food. 



These birds are subject to some variation in plumage. In most the 

 white under the chin is wanting; in some that mark is mottled with 

 black, and the white spot under the eyelid wanting. Whether these 

 are varieties, or depending on age or sex, has not been thoroughly 

 ascertained ; perhaps both : but we have killed both sexes at all seasons 



