An Egg Lifter. 
On a Collection of Eggs from 
Georgia. H. B. Bailey, 
BY WALTER HOXIE, FROGMORE, S. C. 
The sun was low, the tide was low and my 
spirits were low, as I jogged back to camp 
along the beach with absolutely nothing in my 
bag. But suddenly my spirits rose like a reg- 
ular tidal wave, for there in the sand was an 
Oyster-catcher’s tracks. Not one or two little 
casual foot marks, leading nowhere in particu- 
lar, but a regular little pathway and at the end 
of it, just as I expected, two eggs. Now it was 
so near sunset that I felt sure the birds would 
soon be back; so with murder in my heart I 
hid in a tussock of grass and cocked both bar- 
rels. As soon as I was fairly hidden and bent 
upon a special object it seemed as if all sorts of 
nice birds came trooping about. Koyal Terns 
and Laughing Gulls flew low over the beach 1 
had just left. The Sea-side Finches sang sweet- 
ly in the grass all about me; and a flock of 
Piping Plovers bathed and played in a little 
pool within easy shot. 
At last my Oyster-catchers came along. 
They came prancing up from the beach, and 
when within sight of the nest stopped and held 
a pow-wow. Possibly, I thought, they see me, 
so I squatted clear out of sight for a minute or 
two and when I raised my head again they 
were both at the nest. 
For an instant I hesitated but 1 might destroy 
the eggs, and while I was waiting one flew oil' 
to a distance of about a hundred yards. After 
looking carefully about for a few minutes, he 
gave a call and his mate rose from her nest and 
joined him. They seemed to be making a lot 
of fuss out there, kicking up the sand, squat- 
ting down and cackling like mad. In a few 
minutes though they seemed to get over this 
excitement and one bird came flying back and 
settled on the eggs. Now she began to act 
strangely, wiggling round and squatting down 
again and I began to think she was going to 
lay another egg, when oil' she wont and joined 
her mate, who welcomed her coming with the 
most extravagant cries and gestures. But she 
sat down quite still and demure. I was about 
to rise and look for my third egg when I saw 
her coming back. Again she went through the 
same operation and her second welcome was if 
possible more exuberent than the first. Then 
all was quiet; one bird sat on the sand and the 
other stood silently by her, and though I wait- 
ed some time longer they showed no sign of 
returning again to their eggs and I could only 
conclude that they had seen me watching them 
and would not come back until I went away. 
So I arose from my uncomfortable position and 
went to pick up the eggs, when to my surprise 
the little hollow in the sand was empty. While 
I was watching the curious antics of the female 
she had lifted the eggs between her legs and 
carried them off. So without giving time for 
her to repeat the offence I hurried to her new 
quarters and secured them successfully. 
On preparing the specimens they proved to 
be slightly incubated and were no doubt a full 
set. The Oyster-catcher seems to deposit two 
as often as three eggs; at least that is my ex- 
perience in this locality. 
Q.& O. XII. Aug. 1887 P. U <?. 
89. Haematopus palliatus. Oyster Catcher.— N ests on the sand 
near the sea; eggs four. May 18. 
BulLN.O.Os 3 , Jan, 18.83. P.42 
S. If - - U/<MaZ 
Farther back, towards the sand hills we will 
look for the Oysteroateher's ( Haimatopus palli- 
atus) nest. A slight mound is usually selected, 
and the eggs deposited on the top; .usually 
three in number, but sometimes only two. The 
tracks of the birds are the best guide to follow, 
and I usually see the eggs from quite a distance 
more easilj r than close up to them. 
X2Z- -MastU, /?T7. / 6 . 3* 
tO 
