much
above high-water mark, and quite within reach of heavy spray when there
was any sea on: we could distinctly see the eggs when looking down from
the cliffs on them, and the two old birds were walking about the ridge
of rock as if dancing on the tight-rope; how they kept their eggs in
place on that narrow ridge, exposed as it was to wind and sea, was a
marvel. The Oystercatcher breeds also in both the small Islands, Jethou
and Herm, on almost all the rocky islands to the north of Herm, in Sark
and Alderney, and on Burhou, near Alderney, where I found one clutch of
three of the most richly marked Oystercatcher's eggs I ever saw: these,
as well as another clutch, also of three eggs, were placed on rather
curious nests; they were on the smooth rock, but in both cases the birds
had collected a number of small stones and made a complete pavement of
them, on which they placed their eggs; there was no protection, however,
to prevent the eggs from rolling off. Both in Burhou as well as on the
Amfroques and other rocks to the north of Herm, the eggs of the
Oystercatchers, as well as of the other sea-birds breeding there, had
been ruthlessly robbed by fishermen and others, who occasionally visit
these wild rocks and carry off everything in the shape of an egg,
without paying any respect to the Bird Act, which professes to protect
the eggs as well as the birds.

Professor Ansted includes the Oystercatcher in his list, but only marks
it as occurring in Guernsey and Sark. There is an Oystercatcher and also
a few of the eggs in the Museum.

110. CURLEW. _Numenins arquata_, Linnaeus. French, "Courlis," "Grand
courlis cendre."--A good many Curlews are to be found in the Islands
throughout the year, but I do not believe any of them breed there; I
have seen them in Guernsey, Jethou, Herm and Alderney, all through the
summer, but always in flocks on the mud and seaweed below high-water
mark, whenever they can be there, searching for food, and quite as wild
and wary as in the winter. I have never seen them paired, or in any
place the least likely for them to be breeding. I know Mr. Gallienne, in
his remarks to Professor Ansted's list, says, "Although I have never
heard of the eggs of either the Curlew or Whimbrel being found, I am
satisfied they breed here (I think at Herm), as they stay with us
throughout the year." I cannot from my observation agree with this
supposition of the Curlew breeding in the Islands; nor can I agree with