Order CHARADRIIFORMES 
No. 161. 
Family H^MATOPODIDJE. 
H^MATOPUS NIGER BERNIERI. 
WESTRALIAN BLACK OYSTEKCATCHER. 
(Plate 127.)* 
H.EMATOPUS UNICOLOR BERNIERI Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 214, 1912 ; Bernier 
Island, South-west Australia, 
Melanibyx fuliginosus Heine, Nomencl. Mus. Hein., Ornith., p. 337, 1889. 
Hcematopus unicolor Carter, Emu, Vol. Ill,, p. 175, 1904. 
Hcematopus unicolor fuliginosus Hartert, Nov. Zool., Vol. XII., p. 200, 1905. 
Hcematopus fuliginosus Ogilvie-Grant, Ibis 1910, p. 183 ; Carter, ib., p. 658. 
Hcematopus unicolor bernieri Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 214, 1912. 
Distribution. West Australia, as far north as Point Cloates ; Montebello Islands. 
Adult r/Mle. Differs from H, n. fuliginosus in its browner coloration, and in having a 
shorter wing and longer tarsus ; wing 282, culmen 81, tarsus 56. 
Adult female. Browner than the male ; larger, and with a longer bill. 
Nest. “ A depression in the sand ” (Carter). 
Eggs. “ Clutch, two ” (Carter). 
Breeding-season. September (Carter). 
Mr. Tom Carter tells me the native name of this bird is Wee-ardoo. 
It is not so common as longirostris, and is usually met with on a rocky or 
shingly beach, in pairs. One or both birds are fond of perching on the top 
of a rock. He has met them along the coast from North West Cape to 
Albany ; and further {Ibis 1910, p. 658), records that he saw “ a pair of 
the Sooty Oystercatchers busily feeding on the south side of Rabbit Island 
(near Albany), which is almost all rocky ground.” 
The type figured was collected on Bernier Island, West Australia, on 
July 8th, 1906, by Mr. G. C. Shortridge. 
* The Plate is lettered Hcematopus fuliginosus. 
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