OYSTER-CATCHER 211 
plentiful, and especially frequents remote rocky islands. 
It occurs in Orkney, Shetland, and the Outer Hebrides, 
and has been reported or supposed to nest in all these 
groups. 
HAMATOPUS OSTRALEGUS, Linn. 
OYSTER-CATCHER. 
Sea Piz. Manx, *Garey-ureck,' Garee-breck (Cr.) ; *Bridgeen.} 
Vreck=pied. For Garey see Fauna of the Outer Hebrides, 
p. 117, where the equivalent Gearra, of doubtful meaning, is 
said to be applied to various animals and birds. In the same 
work Gearra-breac is given as a name of the Black Guillemot 
(Uria grylle). (Cf. Se. Gaelic, Bridean, Gillebride ; Irish, 
Gullebride.) 
On the quieter portions of the sandy coasts of the isle, 
the Oyster-catcher is a familiar and dominant species. 
Many nest along the shingle-beaches from Orrisdale to 
Ramsey, and on the Ayre their incessant clamour is the 
unfailing accompaniment of a summer ramble, ever 
associated with the steep banks of shingle, the quivering 
haze, the hot sand, and the low bright flora of that interest- 
ing tract. On the Ayre they breed over the common 
generally in the barer parts, but elsewhere in the sand I 
have found their nests only in the immediate neighbour- 
hood of the high-water line. The eggs are laid here at the 
end of May, and the clutch ordinarily consists of three, but 
on 8th June 1892 a bird at Orrisdale had been hatching 
two eggs only, and another but one, as noted by Mr. Graves. 
The eggs, laid without nest-lining in a depression among 
1 The name Garey-vreck is used in the north and Bridgeen in the south of the 
island. 
