HiEMATOPUS OSTRALEGUS, Linn. 
Oyster-catcher. 
HcBmatopus ostraJegus, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 257. 
OstraJegus hcematopus, Macgill. Man. of Nat. Hist., Orn., vol. ii. p. 59. 
vulgaris, Less. Rev. Zool., 1849, p. 47. 
Why lias this bird been called Oyster-catcher, when it is said by most observers never to feed upon that 
species of mollusk, but to be extremely fond of the common limpet, which it dexterously detaches from the 
rocks left bare by the tide ? Thompson, who has studied more fully the food of our native birds than 
perhaps any other Avriter, says : — “ The Ostrea inhabits too deep water to be ever accessible to the bird. 
The contents of the stomachs of eight individuals, shot in spring, autumn, and winter, proved, on 
examination, to be as follows; five contained only the opercula and portions of the animal of the whelk 
(Littorina co7nmunis'), with which some of them were wholly filled; one exhibited the opercula of Purpurea 
lapillns ; another presented a good deal of vegetable matter (consisting of tender roots and green leaves), 
small, white, worm-like larv ae, a few opercula of the whelk, and an operculum of Buccmum undatum ; in the 
stomach and crop of the last, which was remarkably fat, Avere fifty o|)crcula of large whelks, about twenty- 
five animals of good-sized limpets {Patella vulgaris), and an holothuria {Cueumaria).” 
Having commenced this history of a species so common, so attractive, and which plays so important a 
part among our shore-loving birds, by showing that its trivial name, like that of the Goat-sucker, is a 
misnomer, I proceed to state that it is found on every part of the coasts of England, Ireland, and Scotland 
suited to its habits. Being a winter as well as a summer bird in the British Islands, it must be considered 
indigenous with us. Unlike the Turnstone, the Grey Plover, and some other Grallatorial birds, which 
frequently desert whole districts and even entire countries for a time, the present species rarely changes the 
locality in which it has taken up its abode, and, consequently, may almost to a certainty be found any day 
in the year by those acquainted Avith its habits and its usual places of resort. It is a strikingly showy bird, 
whether seen on the low rocky promontories of the coast or on the shingly beach of such rivers as the Don 
and the Dee, where it sometimes breeds. Apart from Britain, the Oyster-catcher is enumerated in the 
aAufaunas of all the countries of Europe ; indeed its range extends from the Arctic circle to the Mediter- 
ranean, and eastAvard as far as India ; but as yet we do not know if it has been observed in China, the 
bird brought from that country by Mr. SAvinhoe, Avhicb at first Avas considered identical, proving, on 
further examination, to be distinct and probably Hcematopus longirostris. Other species of this form are 
distributed over certain parts of the globe ; in the Old World some are found in Europe, throughout 
the greater part of Africa, India, China, Australia, Tasmania, and Ncav Zealand ; and others in America, 
from the United States to Terra del Fuego, — the Avhole probably amounting to ten or tAA'eh'e in 
number. 
“ The Oyster-catcher of Europe,” says Sir William Jardine, in a note to bis edition of Wilson’s ‘ American 
Ornithology,’ “ is to be found on all the sandy British coasts in immense abundance. All those I luiA^e 
observed breeding, have chosen low' rocky coasts, and deposited their eggs on some shelf or ledge, merely 
baring the surface from any moss or other substance covering the rock. When approached, the parents 
fly round, uttering Avith great vehemence their clamorous note. A great many old and young birds are 
alw^ays to be found on these coasts, enlivening the monotony of an extensive sand-beach with their clean 
and lively appearance and their shrill notes. As the young begin to assemble, the flocks increase; by the 
month of Angust they consist of many thousands, and at full tide they may be seen, like an extensive black 
line, at the distance of miles. They remain at rest until about half tide, when a general motion is made, 
and the line may be seen broken as the different parties adv'ance close to the water’s edge. After this they 
keep pace Avith the reflux until the feeding-banks begin to be uncovered, of which they seem to have an 
instinctive knoAvledge, when they leave their resting-place in small troops, — taking day after day the same 
course. They are difficult to approach ; but Avhen one is shot the flock will hover over it for some time, 
without heeding the intruder. During flight they assume the Avedge-shape ( > ), like Ducks. They feed 
at night when the tide is suitable, and are often A'ery noisy. Mussels and other shell-fish, crabs, &c. &c. 
are their most common food.” 
Mr. HcAvitson says, “ the Oyster-catcher is very particular in the selection of a site for its eggs, always 
making choice of a piece of gravel, or stony ground if to be met Avitb near, more especially should it be 
mixed Avitb broken shells, to Avbich it shows a curious partiality, carefully collecting them together, and 
arranging them in a slight hole in the ground, and, when these are not to be found, selecting in their stead 
