PIED OYSTER-CATCHER. 
21 
Into the flock, observed that all their evolutions were 
tike a regularly organized military company.” 
The oyster-catcher will not only take to the water 
'Then ivounded, but can also swim and dive well. This 
tact I can assert from my own observation, the exploits 
of one of them in Ibis way having' nearly cost me my 
life. On the sea beach of Cape May, not far from a 
ncep and rapid inlet, I broke the wing of one of these 
birds, and being without a dogf, instantly pursued it 
^wards the inlet, which it made for with great rapidity; 
We both ])luuged in nearly at the same instant ; but the 
bird eluded my grasp, and I sunk beyond my depth ; it 
was not until this moment that I recollected having 
carried in my gun along with me. On rising to the 
surface, I found the bird had dived, and a strong ebb 
current w.as carrying me fast towards the ocean, 
encumbered with a gun and all my shooting apparatus ; 
1 was compelled to relinquish my bird, and to make for 
the shore, with considerable mortification, and the total 
destruction of the contents of my powder horn. The 
Mounded bird afterwards rose, and swam M'ith great 
out among the breakers. 
The same day, I shot and examined three individuals 
p tins species, tivo of M'hich measured each eighteen 
inches m length, and thirty-five inches in e.xtent ; the 
nt cr was somewhat less. The bills varied in length, 
e^urmg three inches and three quarters, three and a 
three and a quarter, thinly comiiressed at the 
rem'U'l^*iT the woodpecker tribe, but 
arc id'i r “‘“■‘■OM'ed near the base where the nostrils 
in tl that it may u ork M'ith more freedom 
ie-'^th cidJir 
diiwinw • t l’‘”"t, M-as evidently much M orn by 
’i, ^ * colour, a rich orange scarlet, somewhat 
1 ...; 1 . the tip ; eye, large, orbits, of the same 
I , ■'‘P > ®y*^> large, orbits, ot tne same 
small 1 1 * brilliant yellow, pupil, 
17, ti ’ under the eye, is a Liall spot of 
rovl;,!^", of the same ou the wing- 
tall m* ’ “onk, scapulars, rump, wing-quills, and 
> acK ; several of the primaries are marked ou the 
