Family  I.  Charadeid^. 
The 
ftfth  Subfamily, 
HiEMATOPODIN-^,  or  Oyster-catchers, 
the  / ^®^gthened,  strong,  with  the  apical  half  much  compressed  to  the  tip,  which  is  obtuse ; 
Tail  m 1 ^ ^^near,  and  placed  in  a membranous  lateral  groove : the  Wings  long  and  pointed : the 
^‘t  tVio  1-  Tarsi  robust,  and  covered  with  small  scales;  the  Toes  three;  the  lateral  toes  united 
y a membrane,  especially  the  outer  one : the  Claws  strong,  broad,  and  curved. 
HiEMATOPus  Linn.* 
^iU  louo-gj.  , 
epical  pq  head,  strong,  straight,  with  the  culmen  slightly  depressed  at  the  base,  and  the 
S''oove  ^'^^ch  compressed  to  the  tip,  which  is  obtuse ; the  nostrils  placed  in  a lateral  membranous 
hrst  ^^aches  nearly  to  the  middle  of  the  bill,  with  the  opening  linear.  Wings  long,  with 
midiil  ^*^ngest.  Tail  moderate  and  even,  or  slightly  rounded.  Tarsi  strong,  longer  than 
t covered  with  small  reticulated  scales.  Toes  moderate,  strong;  the  lateral  toes 
*^lddle  toe  by  a basal  membrane,  especially  the  outer : the  claws  strong,  broad,  and 
y curved. 
The 
P'’'*he8j  ou  tv,  genus  are  distributed  in  most  parts  of  the  Old  and  New  Worlds.  They  live  solitary,  or  in  small 
>^etr, 
^ citing  chores  or  salt  marshes,  seeking  their  food,  which  consists  of  various  bivalve  molliisca,  from  the 
®hot,g  fQ,,  probing  the  moist  mud  or  sand  with  their  bills.  The  animal  is  obtained  by  breaking  the  shell,  or,  if 
^'^Tloyed  to  hy  inserting  the  comjn'essed  ends  of  their  mandibles  between  the  valves  : the  same  means 
^ Out  ’^®*'rove  the  limpets,  which  are  generally  firmly  attached  to  the  rocks,  and  the  animals  of  which  they 
^^Pable  of  1^^.^  kills.  They  fierfomi  periodical  migrations  in  large  flocks ; and  their  flight  is  strong,  swift,  and 
®uld  ong  continued.  They  possess  the  power  of  swimming  from  one  place  to  another,  and  even  dive 
fe^  8liO].g  Q safety  when  wounded  or  alarmed.  The  nest  is  formed  without  care  on  the  bare  shingles  of 
Usual],,  , ®uch  scanty  herbage  as  sometimes  grows  about  high-water  mark,  or  in  the  salt  marshes.  The 
eposits  four  eggs. 
Established  by  Linnaeus  in  1735.  Ostralega  of  Brisson  (1700)  is  synonymous. 
