Simple and hard though the materials be which compose its nest, it is as

nt of them as many of our
Whether the position for the egg is chosen upon the pebbly

it is always carefully strewed with these small flat pieces of
to please the taste of the architect, which seems
9

small flat pieces of stone.
particular in its arrangeme
composition of their neat and beautiful abodes.
upon the harder surface of the rock,

shell or gravel. The whiter they are, the better they seem
however, to experience some difficulty in placing them to its liking, and prepares numerous nests before it

This 1 have always noticed with wonder, and in some instances have seen as many as
as well finished as the one which contained the eggs.” I suspect that nests of this
e met with in certain localities ; for the eggs found on the fine sandy borders of
a slight depression only ; and in the rocky spots of the coast where
they are deposited just above high-w little in the shape of a nest is to be detected. The
Oyster-catcher generally lays two, three, or four eggs. Perhaps the normal number may be three, since

ere found in the nests detected by me in the beaches in

not more than three, and most frequently two, W
Tasmania, where I was surrounded by Hematopus longirostris and H. fulgmnosus, the former of which is very

nearly allied to the European species ; and we may safely infer that the nidification of the two birds is as

similar as their outward appearance.
Macgillivray, speaking of the bird when raiding, as it sometimes does, into the interior of the country,

says :—“ When by the silver Dee, gliding rapidly
and sbrill cry, and, turning round, see a pair of Sea-pies winging their flight up the
mage contrasting strongly with every thing round, and their
d foreign aspect, they never fail to rivet your gaze. Equally
erassy meadow, picking up an insect or a slug, then

attractive are they when running about on some g
standing, and again advancing with short quick steps, prettily tripping it among the gowans, then emitting

their loud alarm-cries, and flying olf to a more distant place or alighting on the pebbly beach.

« While reposing, the Sea-pie stands with its legs quite straight, or uses one leg only, the other being
drawn up, the body horizontal, the neck retracted, the head either directed forward or with the bill buried
among the feathers of the back. In this position they present a curious appearance when there is a high
wind, as in that case each individual directs his breast towards it, and on a sandy beach or level shore they
often stretch out in long lines. — Its flight is strong and steady, performed by regular beats of the extended
wings, with the neck drawn in and the feet directed backwards. Its alarm-note is a single shrill scream ;
but on some occasions it emits a modulated softened cry of several notes. When wounded so as to
be unable to fly, it readily betakes itself to the water and swims off, sitting light and moving with consider-

smaller birds are in the softer and more luxurious
beach or

makes use of one.
a dozen, all apparently
description are only to b
some of our inland rivers were placed in
ater mark, but

along amidst corn-fields, pastures, and fragrant birch-

woods, you hear a loud
country, their glossy black and pure white plu

long vermilion beaks giving them a strange an

able speed.”

The eggs, which are deposited in April and May, are of a yellowish stone-colour, spotted with ash-grey
and dark brown, and are about two inches and two lines in length by one inch and six lines in breadth.
Ihe process of incubation occupies about three weeks ; and during that period the male keeps guard, as it
were, and becomes very noisy on the approach of danger. The young when hatched are clothed in a greyish
brown down.

; = ee readily becomes tame, especially when taken young, and then forms an amusing pet,
of which a very interesting instance is given in Thompson’s ‘ Natural History of Ireland,’ vol. ii. p. 127, to
which I must beg leave to refer my readers.

Both Selby and Macgillivray speak disparagi is bi
Aiea ce rae a) seu disparagingly of the flesh of this bird, the former saying it “ partakes of

: i 0 ns ood ee which it subsists,” and the latter that it is ‘‘ very dark, abounds in fat of a yellowish
colour, has a disagreeable smell, and ra iS 1 i i
ae ae ; : ee unpleasant taste ;” but this is contrary to my experience (which,

, reat) ; for those ‘ av Ta
ot eae : ; have eaten have been tender, juicy, and well flavoured ; and that they
partaken of by many persons is certain, since it is very fi ] 1

Be ies tong and ; ery frequently seen in the shops of the second-class

ae idon ; and we learn from Macgillivray that it is as often seen in the markets of Edinburgh,
where they are usually sold at two shillings a couple

The sexes are preci i

are precisely alike at the sé i : : - ee
es y) e same age, both in colour and markings; their throat, which 1s Jet-
ack im summer, is crossed by a mark of pure white i 1 1 i :
ne ie tericdiof Pp nite in winter, the absence or presence of which will serve
é 1e year at which a i : hi i
ee y xich a mounted specimen has been killed. The bill 1s at all times

ange in the adult bird, the eye blood-red, and the legs pink i

brilliant according to the season; thus i ees pinky desh-coloars batt ae i

2 ‘ n ° ~ Ci ° oe ° e 2
commencement of the breeding - . autumn they are not so bright or vivid as 1m spring, prot to the
-edine-season, Ww ike ¢ ‘ : :

g 1en, like all other birds, they are in their finest costume.

| P C c P