OYSTER-CATCHER. 
63 
food; but the latter, for the most part only if alarmed. The 
young too evince the same habits, and run about almost 
immediately after being hatched. They fly strongly, and sail 
for some short distance before pitching down. 
They feed in the mornings and evenings, and at night, on 
various shell-fish—mussels, limpets, and other Crustacea; worms, 
and marine insects. For dislodging the former their strong 
and wedge-shaped bill is admirably adapted. They roost 
during the day, standing either on one or both legs on a stone, 
rock, or bank. While the tide covers their feeding-places 
they repair to the neighbouring corn and other fields, which 
they again quit for their more natural resorts as soon as 
permitted. 
They are extremely noisy during the time that they have 
young, screaming loudly, or scolding in their defence. Meyer 
says, The call-note of the bird in question sounds most like 
the word ‘quip’ or ‘whip,’ uttered in a very high tone, and 
repeated several times when on the wing; the concert is 
generally begun by one bird in a moderate ‘tempo,’ which 
increases to ‘allegro,’ and finally ‘presto, presto,’ being joined 
by an increased number of voices until all unite in the 
chorus.’ 
The nest is placed among gravel or stones, or among grass 
near the sea bank, in situations above high-water mark, 
where these materials of building are at hand, and the bird 
seems to be especially partial to a mixture of broken shells, 
which it carefully collects together and places in a slight 
hollow in the ground, using considerable care in their dis¬ 
position. Several nests appear to be made, sometimes, before 
the architect can fashion one to give perfect satisfaction; 
many nests are placed in contiguity to each other, intermixed 
too, it may be, with those of other aquatic birds. Some 
have been met with on the top of isolated rocks, at a 
height of from ten to fifteen feet from the ground. In lieu 
of shells small pieces of stone or gravel are selected, and 
the whiter they are the better they seem to please. Incu¬ 
bation lasts about three weeks. 
The eggs are four in number, and of a yellowish stone- 
colour, spotted with grey, brown, and brownish black. They 
have been found variously in April, May, June, and July, 
so that it would appear that two broods are reared in the 
year. The eggs are disposed with their small ends inwards. 
The young birds run soon after they are hatched, and are 
