tS joe Bice in bee 
ss gine HAMATOPUS. 
— OYSTER: CATCHER. 
| The beak | iS orth comp fabtiraih and wedges 
_fhaped at the point. 3 
_ The tongue fcarcely one third the length of Ls mille 
- The noftrils are narrow. 
The feet formed for running, with three toes 
, divided. | 
; HE Oyfter-catcher feeds upon fea- -worms, 
a rT oyfters, limpets, and other fhell-fifh, which 
he picks up near the fea. He always confines 
~ himfelf to the fhore and the fand-banks that are 
uncovered, when the tide is out, and follows the 
ebb: and he never’ wanders far, either from the ~ ’ 
land or from the rocks. | | 
_ Thefe birds are fometimes called Sea-pies, not 
only becaufe their plumage is black and white, 
but becaufe, like the Magpye, they are continu-_ 
ally making a noife, efpecially when they are in : 
flocks: this fharp and quick cry is repeated con- 
ftantly, either when ney are at ret, or when ? 
they fly. 
ngs : , ial ee The 

