BIRDS OF THE OCEAN AND SEASHORE 
275 
Eggs. —Two or three, sometimes four or even five, varying consider¬ 
ably in the ground colour and distribution of the markings, a common 
type being pale green or brown, uniformly spotted and blotched with 
umber or dark olive-brown, and faint underlying markings of dull violet- 
grey. Breeding-season: October to January or February (Australia). 
30. Pied Oyster-catcher Hcematopus ostralegus Linne 
Ha-mat'-o-pus —Gk, haimatos, blood; Gk, pons, foot: os-traV-eg-us —Gk, 
ostreon, oyster; Gk, legein, to gather. 
Distribution. —Australia generally, and Tasmania; occurs also in 
Europe, northern Africa, and Asia to the Moluccas, New Guinea, Aru 
Islands, and New Zealand. 
Notes. —Also called White-breasted Oyster-catcher, Black-and-white 
Oyster-catcher, Seapie, Olive, Redbill, and Torea. Usually singly or in 
pairs, occasionally in small parties of from four to eight, frequenting sea¬ 
shores. It prefers shores with stones and reef outcrops, where it obtains 
most of its food, consisting chiefly of small molluscs, crustaceans, and other 
marine animals. Being a sociable bird, it is often seen in the company of 
other shore-roving species, such as Curlews and Sandpipers; it is 
exceptionally wary. 
Nest. —A depression in the sand; generally on the shore, above high- 
water mark. 
Eggs. —Two, pale stone-colour or brownish-white, covered with 
irregular-shaped spots, blotches, and short streaks of blackish-brown and 
umber and underlying markings of inky-grey; the colour, shape, and 
distribution of the markings vary considerably. Breeding-season: 
October to January (southern Australia) ; July to September (north¬ 
western Australia). 
31, Sooty Oyster-catcher Hcematopus unicolor Forster 
u-ni-col-or —L., unicolor, of one colour. 
Distribution. —Australia generally, and Tasmania; occurs also in 
New Zealand. 
Notes. —Also called Black Oyster-catcher, Redbill, and Toreo-pango. 
Usually singly or in pairs, frequenting chiefly rocky shores, islands, and 
reefs. It is similar in habits and economy to the Pied Oyster-catcher, but 
is even more wary than that species. 
Nest. —A shallow depression in the sand, lined with pieces of herbage, 
dried grass, seaweed, fragments of coral, or broken shells. It generally 
breeds on islands and reefs, often on a grass-covered ledge, some height 
above the water. 
Eggs. —Two, rarely three, pale yellow-stone or pale brown, covered 
with irregular-shaped spots, blotches, and short streaks of blackish-brown 
or dull black, and a few underlying markings of light brown and inky- 
grey. Breeding-season: October to January. 
