Several pairs were breeding in the sante locality. Zoo'. Proc.,' 1836.) Mr. Gould (' Birds of Europe') says, "The eggs of these birds are so difficult to obtain, that we only know one collector who possesses them. They are one inch eight lines long, by one inch two lines and a half in breadth, light olive-brown blotched and spotted with black these specimens were procured from the Grampian Hills." They are excellent for the table when in Ramon. Numbers are shot near Cambridge and Royeton during their spring migration. We find Dotrela ' charger' at one penny each, a considerable sum in those days, in the ' Northumberland Household-Book,' and enume rated among the birds admitted to the high (his lordship's) table. They now find a ready sale in the London market et about six shillings a couple.
C. hiaticula, the Ringed Plover, Ring-Dotterel, Grand Pluvier h Collier of Temminck. It is found throughout the year on most of the shores of the British Islands, and is even more numerous on our own shores in winter than it is in summer.
C. Cantiones, the Kentish Plover, Pluvier h Collier Interrompu, Temminck. This bird was first obtained at Sandwich in Kent, and named by Dr. Latham in his General Synopsis of Birds.' Dr. Plom ley of Maidstone states that it is very numerous in Romney Marsh at the present time. It arrives in April, breeds on the shingle, and departs in August. (Yarrell, 'British Birds,' vol. ii.) C. minor, the Little Ringed Plover, or the Little Ring-Dotterel, Petit Pluvier Is Collier, Temminck. Although on the continent of Europe by no means a rare bird, it has been obtained very rarely in England.
lIcematopus. Bill long, strong, compressed ; point very much com pressed, chisel-like. Nostrils lateral, longitudinally slit in the groove of the bill. Feet strong, muscular ; three toes directed forwards, middle toe united to the external one, up to the first joint, by a membrane, and to the internal toe by a small rudiment ; toes bor dered with the rudiment of a membrane. Wings moderate, the first quill longest.
Habits of the Genus.—The species live along the sea-shore, on the beach or sands; following the retreat of the waves, to gather such crustaceous or marine animals as they wash up. They assemble in great flocks for their migrations, but live solitarily during the time of pairing and incubation. Their nests are made in the herbage and in the marshy meadows near the sea, and they both run and fly with rapidity. Their cry is shrill and resounding. They moult twice, in autumn and spring, but the colours of the plumage scarcely change at all at those periods; the only marked difference observed at this change of plumage exists in the absence or presence of the white gorget. There is uo difference in the sexes. (Temm.)
• ostralegus (Linn.), the Oyster-Catcher. The male and female in winter plumage have the head, nape, upper part of the breast, back, wings, and extremity of the tail, deep black ; a very marked gorget under the throat ; rump, origin of caudal feathers and quills, transverse band on the wings, as well as all the lower parts, pure white ; bill and naked circle round the eyes very bright orange ; iris crimson ; feet obscure red.
The young of the year have the black of the plumage clouded and bordered with brown ; the white dirty ; bill and naked circle of the eyes blackish-brown ; iris brown ; feet livid gray.
The summer or nuptial plumage has all the upper parts of the front of the neck of the same black as the wings, which black is more lus trous and with reflections. (Temm.) This is L'Hultrier, Pie de Mer, and Becasse de Mer, of the French ; Beccaccia di Mare of the Italians ; Marspitt and Strandskjura of the Swedes ; Tialldur (fern. Tilldra) of the Icelanders ; Kielder of the Feroe Islanders ; Tield, Kield, Glib, aud Strand-Skiure, of the Norwe gians ; Strand-Skade of the Danes ; Geschackte Austernfischer of the Germans ; Scholackster of the Netherlanders ; Oyster-Catcher and Sea-Pie of the British ; and Piogen y Mor of the Welsh.
It is common in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, Russia, Siberia, and extending to Kamtchatka ; the British Islands (where it is indi genous, and breeds), from the Scilly Isles to Shetland ; common and resident in Ireland. Temminck states that this species also lives in North America, but that the Oystcr-Catcher of Brazil and the whole of South America forms a distinct race. He adds that it also inhabits Japan. The Prince of Canino, in his Birds of Europe and North America,' however does not include it among the North American birds, but places opposite to it (in the American column) fiemotopus Temm. ostralegus, Wils.; IL Brasiliensia. Licht..).
or yellgwish stone-colour, spotted with ash-gray or dark brown, or blackish, are deposited in a shallow hole, scratched in the gravel or sand, and sometimes among the shingles of the beach, but most fre quently among the herbage of marshy places near the sea. It can hardly be said to make a nest. Time of incubation three weeks. Young when first hatched covered with down of a brownish-gray colour. It is sometimes seen far up rivers and inland, where it feeds on earth-worms, &c., and fresh-water insects and mollusks. Easily domesticated in poultry-yards. Several used to be kept upon the grass in front of the Pavilion at Brighton, and there are some in the Gardens of the Zoological Society in the Regent's Park.