OYSTER-CATCHER. 
305 
GRA LLA TO RES. 
CIJA RA DRI1DJE. 
OYSTER-CATCHER, 
SHELDER, SEA-PIE. 
H^MATOPUS OSTRALEGUS. 
PLATE LXXX. 
The Oyster-Catcher breeds on many parts of our 
shores, in Norfolk, on the Fern Islands on the coast of 
Northumberland, becoming more plentiful as we go far¬ 
ther north, and is numerous on most of the Shetland 
Islands. Mr. Yarrell mentions many instances of its 
breeding, also, several miles inland : Mr. Grant, a cor¬ 
respondent of Mr. YarrelTs, mentions having found the 
eggs of the Oyster-Catcher in Scotland, as early as 
April; I have never found them earlier than the end 
of May, but more frequently during the month of 
June; whilst in Shetland, I met with many quite 
fresh, as late as July; we must therefore conclude 
that they are double-brooded. 
The Oyster-Catcher is very particular in the selection 
of a situation for its eggs, always making choice of a 
piece of gravel, or stony ground, if to be met with near, 
more especially should it be mixed with broken shells, to 
which, like the bower-bird, it shows a curious partiality 
carefully collecting them together, and arranging them 
in a slight hole in the ground; and when these are not 
to be found, selecting in their stead small flat pieces of 
