POR RA DiS. OH 
weeks before thefe eggs are hatched. The female _ 
‘bird does not fit clofe, like many water-fowl; fhe 
_ leaves the eggs about ten o’clock in the morning, 
and does not return until about three in the after- — 
‘noon: fhe fuffers’ the eggs to be warmed by the 
fun in the middle of the day. 
'| The little Oyfter-catchers, as foon as they | 
leave the thell, are covered with a black down: 
_ they can run in a few days; and then they hide 
—«themfelves fo well in the tufts of erafs, or other 
& herbage, that it is: very difficult to find them. 
- The beak and feet of the Oyfter-catcher are of 
~ \ abeautiful red, like coral. 

The outer and middle toes of the Gineusiink 
“are united until the firtt joint, by a little web, or 
_ >» kin, and they are all bordered with a*membrane. 
The legs ate ftrong and thick, and the feet are 
‘remarkable ‘for the rough and {caly fkin. which 
covers them. The eyelids are red, and under 
_ ‘éach eye is ‘a little white {pot. The head, neck, 
| and fhouldets are black. 5 
~ Though Oyfter-catchers be very wild in 
a Becks, yet they are eafilytamed when taken young: 
_” “they have been kept fo a long time. In the day 
_ ‘they frequented ponds and ditches, but they would — 
“return of their own accord at night, and rooft with _ 
the ducks and the poultry. 
a 
Es OF Part I 
