70 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
Heads to Torquay makes, one would think, an ideal 
environment for this Oyster-catcher ; yet, in spite 
of its abundance throughout the Straits Islands, I 
have only two instances to record of its occurrence 
on this part of the coast. Mr. Hugh Riordan shot 
one at Easter, 1909, close to the mouth of Bream 
Creek, almost at the spot where I had seen a bird 
of this species for the first time in 1901. It is a bird 
of striking black and white plumage, with red bill, 
so that one is not likely to miss it on such an open 
shore, if it is there. A few are said to breed on Phillip 
Island ; the occasional visitors here noted may have 
come thence. Connewarre market-shooters tell me 
they have sometimes seen birds at the Black Rocks 
near the sewer outfall. 
SOOTY OYSTER-CATCHER 
Hcematopus niger fuliginosus 
This bird closely resembles in its habits the Pied 
Oyster-catcher, from which its uniform sooty plumage 
will distinguish it. Both species are called Red-bills 
in places where they are common. From my experi- 
ence of them in the Furneaux Islands, I should say 
the Sooty Oyster-catcher prefers a rocky coast, the 
Pied favouring sandy beaches. I have never seen the 
Sooty Oyster-catcher on this side of Port Phillip, but 
have had unimpeachable testimony to its occurrence 
both at Lome and Apollo Bay — and being found 
in such localities it certainly would breed there. 
