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THE EUROPEAN OYSTER CATCHER. 
Hcematopus ostralegus , Linnjeus. 
PLATE XXVI. 
* 
Ilmmatopus ostralegus, Linn., §c. — L’ hueterier pie, Temm . — 
Common or Pied Oyster Catcher of British authors. 
Tixe Oyster Catcher is frequent (in some parts 
abundant) on our coasts from south to north, except 
where they are very rocky and precipitous. Their 
favourite stations are where there is a large extent 
of sandy shore, interspersed with scalps, or beds of 
muscles or other shell fish. These are generally un- 
even in their surface, or arc interspersed with pools, 
which contain, breed, or tidely receive from the 
ocean, various molusca and marine animals, furnish- 
ing a favourite food to the birds. Hither they may 
be seen hastening, from their marshalled ranks along 
high water mark, so soon as the first object appears 
above the waves, alighting, or clamorously flying 
around it when its place is only visible from the 
surf ; and, as it becomes uncovered, a dense mass ot 
birds crowd upon it, impatient for the additional store 
of food which the last tide may have washed upon 
it. In general they are shy, and will scarcely allow 
