114 
PRhECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOIuE. 
the months of May and June. The last contained an egg nearly ready for exclusion. 
The birds were alone, or rather, were associating with the black species only ; but 
not in pairs, as they did. From this Dr. Cooper supposed that it is a mere straggler 
on the Pacific coast : perhaps more common southward, but it had not been observed 
by him farther north. He found them among the seaweeds on the rocks, or along the 
sandy beach, feeding chiefly on small Crustacea and mollusca, and very wild. They 
swallowed small shell-covered animals, either entire or partially broken. 
Dr. Bryant mentions finding the Oyster Catcher abundant everywhere throughout 
the Bahamas, resident and breeding wherever there were sandy or gravelly beaches. 
It also breeds on the Island of Cuba, from whence we have received undoubted speci- 
mens of its eggs. 
Leotaud mentions this species as an irregular visitant of Trinidad, where it arrives 
in small flocks some years, and not at all in others. It usually came in August, and 
left in October. Mr. Dresser met with a couple in Galveston Bay in June. His 
boatman called them “ Pillwillet,” but did not confound them with the Red Willet. 
He said they were not a common species, but that one or two pairs bred occasionally 
on the outer island in West Bay. And Dr. Merrill informs us that the Oyster 
Catcher breeds on Padre and Brazos islands, near the mouth of the Rio Grande. 
Mr. H. Durnford (“Ibis,” 1878) mentions meeting with several pairs of this species 
on Tombo Point in Central Patagonia, and evidently nesting, although he failed to 
discover the eggs : this was in December. He also states that this bird occasionally 
occurs at the mouth of the Chupat. The fact that it is found in the extreme southern 
portion of South America is suggestive of its occurrence along the entire coast of that 
continent ; and this is partially confirmed by its presence on the Marias, where Mr. 
Grayson found it common, as well as on the main coast of Mexico on the Pacific. 
Giraud, in his “Birds of Long Island,” mentions finding this species a rather 
scarce bird on Long Island, although during the summer a few may be seen on almost 
every beach, along the whole extent of its sea-coast. In pairs or in small parties it 
frequents the sandy beaches or shoals in quest of its food, which consists chiefly of 
mussels, small crabs, and marine insects. It is apparently confined to the coast, 
and along that of New Jersey and farther south is more common. Giraud was in- 
formed that at low water it visits the oyster-beds, awaiting a favorable opportunity, 
when the shells open, to thrust in its hard and strong Dill and to rob them of their 
contents. Those seen on Long Island were usually solitary birds, or at most a pair 
at any time, and were all between Raynor South and Babylon, in which section no 
oysters are found. They were shy, vigilant, and exceedingly difficult to approach. 
Their flight is swift, and they have a stately walk. When alarmed this bird utters 
a sharp whistling note, and runs rapidly along the beach. Should the pursuit be 
continued, it takes wing, and passes rapidly out of sight. Although its flesh is dark 
colored and ill-flavored, yet, as it is regarded as a singular as well as a rare bird, it is 
always sent to the New York market by the Bay-men, by whom it is called the 
“ Flood Gull.” Giraud adds that it forms no regular nest, but deposits its eggs — 
usually three in number — on the sand, leaving them, in fine weather, during the 
day to be hatched out by the influence of the sun. When wounded, this bird always 
makes for the water, in which it can both swim and dive well. In autumn it 
migrates southward, and large numbers are said to winter in Florida, and at that 
season to collect in flocks ; it is, however, said to be rare at St. Augustine. 
Wilson found it frequenting the sandy sea-beaches of New Jersey in small parties 
of two or three pairs together. It was shy, and rarely permitted approach within 
gunshot, except during the season of breeding. It walked along the shore in a 
