AMERICAN OYSTER-CATCHER. 
Hy^:MATOPUS PALLIATUS. 
Char. Bill red, long, stout, straight, and compressed towards the 
point ; feet red, no hind toe, outer and middle toes united by a membrane 
as far as the middle joint. Head and neck black, changing to blackish 
brown on back and wings ; rump, wing-band, tail, and belly white. Length 
i8 inches. 
Nist On the border of a salt-marsh or upper edge of a sea-beach; 
a mere depression scratched in the sand. 
Agfj. 2-3 ; bluish white or pale buff marked with several shades of 
brown; 2.20 X 1.55. 
The Oyster-catcher is common to the north of both conti- 
nents, breeding in Great Britain, France, Norway, and along 
the borders of the Caspian ; it is even seen as far south as 
Senegal in Africa. But though common in New Jersey and 
the Southern States as far as the Bahamas, where these birds 
likewise pass the period of reproduction, they are but rarely 
seen to visit the coast of Massachusetts. In Europe they 
are said to retire somewhat inland at the approach of winter ; 
in the United States they are seen at this season along the 
coasts which lie south of Cape Hatteras, on the borders of 
