270 
ILematopidj2.—Oyster-catchers. 
148 .—Hamatopis niger, Pallas.—Black Oyster-catcher. 
ITcematopis niger , Pallas,*Zoog. Rosso-Asiat., ii, 1811, 131.—Towns., Narr., 1839, 348.—Cass., Bd. 
B. N. A., 1854, 700.—Coop. & Suckl., P. R. R. Rep., xii, pt. ii, 1860, 233.—Coues, Key X. A. B. 
1872, 246. 
Hcematopis townsendii , Heerm., P. R. R. Rep., 1859, 65. 
This curious bird is found in considerable numbers on the island of Santa Cruz, and, 
as I was informed, on the others of the group. They much of the time frequented the 
little islets which were separated from the main islands by narrow channels, probably 
finding on them breeding-grounds safe from the intrusion of all enemies. Their short, 
extremely stout legs and feet would seem to adapt them for a life among the rocks, 
and they probably do obtain much of their food among the kelp and sea-weed that 
covers the slippery rocks and shelters all sorts of crustaceans and mollusks. The long, 
strong, wedge-like bill is admirably adapted for the purpose of prying open the 
bivalve shells. On the island, however, they seemed to obtain a plenteous supply of 
food by a much easier and readier method, and did not resort to this mode at all. 
They fed much of the time on the sandy beaches piso, where the Sand-pipers, had 
there been any, would have resorted, and, like them, found all they wanted on the sur¬ 
face, where it was cast up by the waves. Their stout robust form would not seem to 
indicate much agility, and their movements were rather clumsy, as though they felt a lit¬ 
tle out of place. On the level beaches, they were quickest when they fallowed the re¬ 
treating waves to the lowest point, whence they would have time to snatch a titbit 
and run back in season to avoid the on-coming surf. The birds were not at all shy, 
and would permit me to approach easily enough within 30 yards of them as they ram¬ 
bled along the beach, pausing now and then, and looking back as if not quite assured 
of my intentions. 
Of all the feathered tribe that frequented the island, they were the noisiest, and 
their harsh vociferous cries could be heard all day long, coming from their island 
strongholds. 
After some search, I succeeded in finding two nests: the first containing a single 
freshly laid egg w r as taken June 6, on the extreme point of a high cliff jutting over 
the sea ; the second, a few days later, was found on one of the islets adverted to. The 
nests proper were rude enough affairs, being simply slight hollows made in the peb¬ 
bly detritus, which in each case had been added to by bits of stone brought from else¬ 
where. In neither case was there any grass or other lining softer than the stones 
themselves. The two eggs in one case were slightly incubated, and probably were all 
that would have been laid. These are indistinguishable from those of the better 
known species H.palliatus. Their ground-color is a faint, grayish drab, profusely spat¬ 
tered with irregular blotches of black. They measure 2.27 by 1.59 ; 2.29 by 1.48 j 2.18 
by 1.52. 
The Surf-bird ( Aphriza virgata ) was not found by us on the island of Santa Cruz, and 
I do not think it breeds on this group. Heermann mentions finding numbers on the Far- 
allone Islands in June, and here it is likely it remains all summer. Mr. Gruber showed 
me a fine specimen which he obtained at Santa Barbara in spring. It seems to be a 
rather uncommon species on the Californian coast, and one Avhosehabits are very little 
known. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Date. 
Collector. 
Wing. 
Tail. 
Bill. 
Tarsus. 
8 
$ ad. 
Santa Cruz Island, Cal. 
June 
4 
II. W. Hensliaw. 
9. 75 
4. 73 
3. 00 
2. 03 
727 
9 ad. 
.do.. 
June 
4 
__do. 
10. 25 
5. 03 
3.12 
2.12 
728 
cT ad. 
.do. 
June 
4 
- .do . 
9. 50 
4. 70 
2. 73 
1. 87 
729 
d" ad. 
.do. 
June 
5 
_do.. 
10. 15 
4. 83 
2. 88 
2. 05 
730 
$ ad. 
.do. 
June 
5 
_do. 
10. 50 
5. 02 
2. 75 
2. 04 
149. Strepsitas melanacephalus, Vigors.—Black Turnstone. 
This bird occurs on the islands, and all along the coast of California, during the 
spring and fall migrations. All pass to high northern latitudes to breed. 
The S. interpres also occurs along the coast. 
Becurvirostridje.—Avocets ; Stilts. 
150. Recurvirostra americana, Gmel.—American Avocet. 
The Avocet occurs in California, though not, I think, in such extreme abundance as 
in many sections in the interior. On the island of Santa Cruz I saw several, and these 
had paired, and were probably breeding. As there were no ponds they were driven to 
