243 
BACHMAN’S OYSTER-CATCHER. 
ELematopus Bachmani, Aud. 
PLATE CCOXXY.— Male. 
According to my friend Mr. Townsend, this species is abundant along 
the whole of the north-west coast of America, as well as in Regent’s Sound, 
but is rarely seen on the shores within Cape Disappointment. The speci- 
men sent to me by him is ticketed as a male, shot in June, 1836 ; but as in 
this genus there is no difference as to colour between the male and the 
female, it may be supposed that in this case the female differs only in being 
somewhat smaller. 
The discovery of two new species is very remarkable, especially when it 
is seen that not one of our three Oyster-catchers resembles the Hcematopus 
Ostralegus of Europe, which for a long time was supposed to exist in 
America, on account of the figure given of this latter bird by Wilson, who 
must have taken it from a stuffed European specimen in Peale’s Museum 
in Philadelphia. Whether this be the case or not, it is pretty certain that 
no such bird as Wilson has represented has as yet been observed in any 
part of North America, although some writers have gone so far as to say 
so, without however offering any evidence. 
Bachman’s Oyster-catcher, Hcemaiopus Bachmani, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 245 
Male 17 i, wing 10 ; bill 2f. 
North-west coast, Regent’s Sound, and about the mouth of the Columbia 
river. Rather common. Migratory. 
Male. 
Bill long, slender but strong, straight, higher than broad at the base 
towards the end extremely compressed, terminating in a very thin Avedge- 
shaped point. Upper mandible with the dorsal line at the base straight aud 
slightly sloping, a little arched beyond the nostrils, then nearly straight and 
sloping to the point, the ridge broad and flattened as far as the prominence, 
afterwards very narrow, the sides sloping at the base, perpendicular towards 
the end, the edges sharp and direct. Nasal groove basal, long ; nostrils sub- 
basal, in the middle of the groove near the margin, linear, direct, pervious. 
