BRITISH BIRDS* 
OYSTER-CATCHER. 
PIED OYSTER-CATCHER, SEA-PIE, OR OLIVE. 
{^Hcsmaiopus ojlralegus^ Lin. — U Hutrier^ BufF.) 
The Oyfter-catcher generally weighs about fix- 
teen ounces, meafures feventeen inches in length, 
and is two feet eight inches in breadth. The bill is 
of a bright fcarlet, about three inches long, wide at 
the noftrils, and grooved beyond them nearly half 
its length ; thence to the tip it is vertically com- 
prelfed on the fides, and ends obtufely : with this 
inflrument, which, in its fhape and j[lru6i:ure, is pe- 
culiar to this bird, it eafily difengages the limpets 
from the rocks, and plucks out the oyflers from 
their half-opened Ihells : on thefe it feeds, as well 
