Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XII.djvu/787

OYSTER OYSTER CATCHER 773 pointed and not much curved ; the surface of the smaller and upper valve when not worn presents everywhere leaf -like scales of a leaden color, and a lengthened pyramidal hinge ridge along the beak ; the muscular impression is nearly central, and of a dark chestnut or violet color ; it often measures 12 to 15 in. in length, but is rarely more than 3 in. wide. This is the common oyster from Chesapeake bay south- ward ; it is sometimes found in the vicinity of Boston, and also at the mouth of the river St. Lawrence ; it multiplies so rapidly on some of the low shores of the southern states as to offer impediments to navigation, and to change the course of tidal currents. In the 0. borealis the shell is more rounded and curved, with the beaks short and considerably curved ; the sur- face is very irregular, presenting loosely ar- ranged layers of a greenish color, with the margins more or less scalloped ; the muscular impression is dark violet, and the interior chalky or greenish white ; a common size is 5 or 6 in. long, but it grows to the length of a foot and to a width of 6 in. This is the common New York oyster, said also formerly to have been abundant in Massachusetts bay. Boston market is supplied principally from artificial beds derived from the Virginia and New York oysters ; the flats in the vicinity of our large maritime cities are generally thick- ly beset with poles, indicating the localities of oyster beds. The principal sources of sup- ply are the Chesapeake bay, the coast of New Jersey, and Long Island sound. Formerly the northern beds were almost wholly kept up by restocking them with seed oysters from Chesa- peake bay and from the Hudson river ; but of late years the spat is secured at spawning time, and new ground in the vicinity is brought under cultivation, till the area of oyster beds in Long Island sound is now computed by miles rather than by acres, and it is yearly extend- ing. With constantly improving methods of culture, means are also devised for protecting the oyster to some extent from its' natural ene- mies, and for transporting oysters to the re- motest parts of the country. No trustworthy statistics can be given of the oyster area or an- nual product, or the amount of money invest- ed, or number of men and vessels engaged in the business ; the wholesale trade of New York alone is estimated at $25,000,000 a year, and that of Chesapeake bay is probably nearly as great. More than 60 species of oysters are de- scribed in various parts of the world ; those of tropical climates have generally a less delicious flavor than the natives of temperate zones. About 200 species of fossil oysters, from the time of the ammonites to the present epoch, are known. The family ostreadw, of which the oyster is the type, contains also the ge- nus anomia, translucent, pearly white within, attached to rocks and weeds by a calcareous plug passing through a hole or notch in the right valve, the same species presenting a great variety of shapes from acquiring the form of the surface to which they are attached. Allied genera are placuna, like the P. Bella or Hun- garian saddle, and P. placenta of the Chinese seas, so transparent as to be used for glass in windows ; the pecten or scallop shell ; and the spondylus or thorny oyster. The pearl oyster is amcula margaritifera, belonging to another family. (See PEARL.) OYSTER CATCHER, a wading bird of the genus hcematopus (Linn.). The bill is twice as long as the head, and is strong, straight, much compressed, sharp-edged, and truncated at the end ; wings long and pointed, with the first quill the longest ; tail moderate and even ; tarsi strong, covered with reticulated plates anteriorly ; toes strong, enlarged on the sides by a thickened membrane, and the middle uni- ted to the outer by a basal membrane ; hind toe wanting ; claws strong, broad, and slightly curved. There are about a dozen species, dis- tributed in most parts of the world ; they are either solitary, or occur in small flocks on the seashore or salt marshes, feeding on various bivalve mollusks, crustaceans, marine worms, and small fish; they also suck sea urchins (echini). They migrate in large flocks, and the flight is swift, strong, and long sustained ; they are also good runners, swimmers, and divers. The American oyster catcher (If. pal- liatus, Temm.) is 17i in. long and 3 ft. in alar extent ; in the winter plumage the body above is light ashy brown, darker on the rump ; the upper tail coverts and wide diagonal band on the wing white ; under parts white ; bill and lids bright orange red ; legs pale reddish ; the sexes are alike ; the summer plumage is much darker. This species is found on the Atlantic coast from Labrador to Florida, never far in- land or away from the salt water ; it is very shy and vigilant ; it goes north in the spring to breed, returning in October; the nest is American Oyster Catcher (Hsematopus palliatus). made without care on the shingly beach in the scanty herbage above high-water mark, in the sand or in the marshes ; the eggs are four, 2 by H in., pale cream-colored, with spots of brownish black and paler tints ; the cry is loud, like the syllables " wheep, wheep, wheep;"