232 OYSTER-CATCHER.

the shells are partly open; it is the bill that is inserted
to kill the oyster. It makes no nest, but deposits its
eggs on the bare ground above bigh-water mark; gen-
erally four, of an oliveaceous brown, blotted with black,
somewhat larger than that of the lapwing. At the time
of incubation the male is very watchful, and upon the
least alarm runs of with a loud scream, upon which the
female instantly runs from her eggs to some distance,
and takes wing. It is a shy bird, but when the young
are hatched it becomes bolder. The young is capable
of running as soon as it quits the egg, and is led by
the parent birds to its proper food. These birds are
subject to some variation in plumage. In most the
white under the chin is wanting; in some that mark is
mottled with black, and the white spot under the eyelid
wanting. Whether these are varieties, or depending on
age or sex, has not been thoroughly ascertained; perhaps
both: but both sexes have been killed at all seasons, with-
out the white on the throat. T’emminck says that they
change their feathers twice in the year; moulting in the
spring and autumn, but the colour of the plumage does
not seem to change at these times; the only difference
consisting in the absence or presence of the white gorget
on the throat. There does not appear to be any difference
in the sexes in the young: the plumage is dusky; the
feathers margined with brown; the eyes of a brownish
black; iris, brown; feet of a greyish black.

Dr. Latham observes, it is easily tamed when taken
young, and has been known to attend the ducks and
other poultry to feed, and shelter at night.”