. The birds of South Africa. Birds. CHARADRIIDa; H^MATOPUS 379 A young bird is paler than the adult, the feathers being all edged with dusky-brown. Distribtition.—The Black Oyster Catcher is found on the African coast from Gaboon on the west and the Eed Sea on the east, south- ward to Cape Colony ; it has also been noticed at Madeira and the Canaries, where it breeds. In South Africa it is most common on the west coast, becoming somewhat rarer towards Natal. It appears to be a resident. The following are localities: German South-west Africa—Wal- visch Bay (Andersson); Cape Colony—Saldanha Bay,
. The birds of South Africa. Birds. CHARADRIIDa; H^MATOPUS 379 A young bird is paler than the adult, the feathers being all edged with dusky-brown. Distribtition.—The Black Oyster Catcher is found on the African coast from Gaboon on the west and the Eed Sea on the east, south- ward to Cape Colony ; it has also been noticed at Madeira and the Canaries, where it breeds. In South Africa it is most common on the west coast, becoming somewhat rarer towards Natal. It appears to be a resident. The following are localities: German South-west Africa—Wal- visch Bay (Andersson); Cape Colony—Saldanha Bay, May, Septem- ber, October (Stark) ; Cape division—January, June (S. A. Mus.), Robben Island (Layard), Knysna, February (Stark), Port Elizabeth and East London (Wood) ; Natal—rare (Ayres).. Pio. 122.—Head of Ilcematopiis moqiiini. x J. Habits.—The Black Oyster Catcher is essentially a shore bird and is found both on the mainland and also on the numerous islands along the west and south coast of South Africa. It is usually seen in pairs, though found in considerable flocks by iindersson in October. It feeds on the beach on small fishes, Crus- tacea and moUusca. Stark saw one trying to wedge a mussel from a rock and persisting in its efforts, although the waves were con- stantly dashing up and submerging it up to the breast. It has a shrill cry and sometimes soars to a great height; it also runs and swims with great ease and dexterity. The eggs have been obtained by Mr. Hugo in the neighbourhood of Simonstown, by Andersson, and also by Dr. Stark on Jut Island in Saldanha Bay in May. According to Hugo the clutch consists of two, according to Andersson of four eggs, while Stark found three. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Stark, Arthur Cowell, d. 1899; Sclater, William Lutley, 1863-
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