174 
PIED OYSTER-CATCHER. 
The female sits on her eggs only during the night, or in re- 
markably cold and rainy weather; at other times the heat of the 
sun and of the sand, which is sometimes great, renders incuba- 
tion unnecessary. But although this is the case, she is not de- 
ficient in care or affection. She watches the spot with an attach- 
ment, anxiety and perseverance that are really surprising, till 
the time arrives when her little offspring burst their prisons, 
and follow the guiding voice of their mother. When there is 
appearance of danger they squat on the sand, from which they 
are with difficulty distinguished, while the parents make large 
circuits around the intruder, alighting sometimes on this hand, 
sometimes on that, uttering repeated cries, and practising the 
common affectionate stratagem of counterfeited lameness to 
allure him from their young. 
These birds run and fly with great vigour and velocity. Their 
note is a loud and shrill whistling wheep — wheep — wheo, smartly- 
uttered. A flock will often rise, descend, and wheel in air with 
remarkable regularity, as if drilled to the business, the glittering 
white of their wings at such times being very conspicuous. They 
are more remarkable for this on their first arrival in the spring. 
Some time ago I received a stuffed specimen of the Oyster- 
catcher from a gentleman of Boston, an experienced sportsman, 
who nevertheless was unacquainted with this bird. He informed 
me that two very old men to whom it was shown called it a 
Hagdel. He adds, “it was shot from a flock which was first 
discovered on the beach near the entrance of Boston harbour. 
On the approach of the gunner they rose and instantly formed 
in line, like a corps of troops, and advanced in perfect order, 
keeping well dressed. They made a number of circuits in the 
air previous to being shot at, but wheeled in line; and the man 
who fired into the flock, observed that all their evolutions were 
like a regularly organized military company.” 
for a long time, frequenting the ponds and ditches during the day, attend- 
ing the ducks and other poultry to shelter of nights, and not unfrequently 
to come up of themselves as evening approaches. Gf.n. Synop. vol- in, p. 
220 . 
