ZOOLOGY. 
233 
Family HAEMATOPOBIDAE.— T h e Oyster Catchers. 
HAEMATOPUS NIGER, Pallas. 
Bachman's Oyster Catclier. 
Ilaemalopus nigtr, Pallas, Zoog. Eosso-Asiat. II, 1811, 131. — Baird & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, 701. 
Haermtopus bachmani, Aud. Oru. Biog. V. 1839, 245; pi. 427.— Ib. Syn. 229.— Ib. Birds Amer. V., 1842, 243; pi. 
325.— TowNSEND, Navr. 1839, 348. 
Sp. Ch. — Eatlier smaller than the preceding ; bill rather more slender, wings long ; legs robust ; tarsi covered with ovate 
scales ; tail short. Head and neck brownish black, with a glaucous or ashy tinge in very adult specimens. All other 
parts of the plumage, above and below, dark brown, rather darkest on the rump ; bill bright red ; legs pale reddish, nearly 
white. 
Total length, about 17 inches ; -wing, lOi; tail, ; bill to gape, 3^ ; tarsus, 2 inches. 
Hab. — Western coast of the United States. Kurile islands, (Pallas.) 
Bachman's oyster catchex' was obtained by Dr. Townsend from tlie northwest coast, having 
been presented to him by William Praser Tolmio, esq., at that time surgeon to the honorable 
Hudson Bay Company, and at present a chief factor and "resident partner" in that wealthy 
corporation. 
Dr. Tolmies' kindness and interest in furthering the wishes of naturalists both of this country 
and of Europe have been already mentioned by me in my notes an the Trichas McGillivroyi. 
Oyster catchers are common in the Rocky islands and points near Victoria, Vancouver' s Island, 
and ixpon the Rock islands and reefs of the Canal d'Arro and the Straits of Fuca. I have not 
yet succeeded in obtaining specimens, but have been promised some by friends residing in that 
vicinity. — S. 
I cannot be certain that the above species inhabits the Territory, as the description appears 
to differ from those observed there by Mr. Gibbs and myself in having pale red, instead of blood 
red legs. 
The only locality where I have seen the oyster catcher is the northern shore of Whidby's 
island, at the Straits of De Puca. A single one frequented that place in April, feeding among 
the sea weeds on a rocky shore, which are so nearly like it in color that it can with difficulty 
be seen at a little distance. This bird was very shy, and I could get no chance to shoot it. On 
the opposite shores of Vancouver' s Island I heard that they were abundant in summer. 
When flying over the water from one point to another it makes a wide semi-circle, keeping 
far from the shore. On starting it utters a loud whistling cry. — C. 
STREPSILAS INTERPRES, (Linn.) 111. 
Turnstone. 
2Vinga interpres, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1, 1766, 248.— Wils. Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 32 ; pi. Ivii. 
Strepsilas interpres, Illiqeu, Prod. 1811, 263.— Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 371.— Nutt. II, 30.— Ann. Orn. Biog. IV, 
1838, 31 ; pl. 304.— Ib. Syn. 227.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 231 ; pi. 323.— Baird & 
Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, 701. 
Figures.— Buff. Pl. Enl. 856.— Vieill. Gal. II, pi. 237.— Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, pl. 57, fig. 1.— Aud. B. of Am. pl. 304 ; oct. 
ed. V, pl. 323. 
Sp. Cii. — Upper parts rather irregularly variegated with black, dark rufous, and white. Head and neck above generally 
white, with numerous spots and stripes of brownish black on the crown and occiput ; space in front of the eye white, usually 
surrounded with black; throat white, on each side of which is a stripe of black running from the base of the bill down- 
wards and joining a large space of the same color (black) on the neck and breast. Abdomen, under wing coverts, under tail 
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