700 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
which, oddly enough, though at present unknown, appears to he figured by Wilson as cited 
above. The determining of the summer plumage of this bird is a problem of much interest. 
We have no specimens from Western North America in the collections of the surveying 
expeditions. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. No. 
Locality. 
Whence obtained. 
1206 
New York_____ 
S. F. Baird.„. 
9301 
Indian river, Florida___ 
Dr. Wall, U. S. A. 
HAEMATOPUS NIGER, Pallas. 
Bachman’s Oyster Catcher. 
Ilaematopus niger, Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-Asiat. II, 1811, 131. 
Ilaematopus bachmani, Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 245 ; pi. 427.— Ib. Syn. 229.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 243; pi. 
325.— Townsend, Narr. 1839, 348. 
Sp. Ch. —Rather smaller than the preceding ; bill rather more slender, wings long; legs robust; tarsi covered with ovate 
scales ; tail short. Head and neck brownish black, with a glaucous or ashy tinge in very adult specimens. All other parts of 
the plumage, above and below, dark brown, rather darkest on the rump ; bill bright red ; legs pale reddish, nearly white. 
Total length about 17 inches ; wing, 10§ ; tail, 4| ; bill to gape, 3| ; tarsus, 2 inches. 
Hab .—Western coast of the United States. Curile Islands, (Pallas.) 
■4 
This bird appears to he restricted to the shores of western North America, and, according to 
Pallas, of northeastern Asia and the islands intermediate between the two continents. We 
have no doubt that the name given by the distinguished Russian naturalist just mentioned 
applies to the present species. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Collected by— 
10397 
o 
1845.. 
S. F. Baird.. 
Wossnessiensky..- 
4625 
V 
Lieut. Trowbridge_ 
/ 
HAEMATOPUS ATER, Vieillot. 
Haematopus aler, Vieillot, Galerie, II, 1825, 88 ; pi. ccxxx. 
Ilaematopus niger, Cuv. R. A. I, 1829, 504. 
Ilaematopus townsendii, Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 247 ; pi. 427.— Ib. Syn. 229.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 245; 
pi. 326. 
Figures. —Voy. Uranic, Birds, pi.'34. 
Sp. Ch.— Larger than either of the preceding ; bill straight, rather slender ; wings long ; legs shorter than in the preceding, 
very robust; tarsi covered with small circular and hexagonal scales; tail short. Entire plumage brownish black, lighter on 
the under parts of the body ; bill and eyelids bright red ; legs red. Total length about 18 inches ; wing, 104 ; tail, 4| ; bill to 
gape, 3| ; tarsus, 2 inches. 
Hab. —Western coast of the United States? South America. Coast of Chili, (Lieut. Gilliss.) 
It is not at all probable that this bird is entitled as yet to be regarded as belonging 
