OYSTER-CATCHERS 



107 



Fig. 124. Summer Plumage. 



283.1. Arenaria morinella (Linn.). RUDDY TURNSTONE. 



Adults. Throat and belly white, chest crossed by a broad black band ; 

 back coarsely mottled with rufous and black; head variously streaked. 

 Young : similar to adult but duller, without rufous on back, and with the 

 chest band mottled dusky gray. Length : 9.00-9.90, wing- 0.00, bill .80-.OU, 

 tarsus 1. 



Distribution. Arctic America, breeding- from the Mackenzie River east- 

 ward ; south in migration, chiefly coastwise, to Patagonia and the Falkland 

 Islands. Rare in the interior and on the Pacific coast. 



Nest. A slight depression in ground lined with grass and leaves. 

 Eggs : usually 4, grayish olive, spotted with dark brown. 



284. Arenaria melanocephala (Vig.). BLACK TURNSTONE. 



Adults in summer. Crown and upper back black, with greenish bronzy 



g-loss ; rest of head, neck, throat, and chest 

 black, spotted on forehead and sides with 

 white ; a white spot in front of eye ; belly and 

 sides white. Adults in winter : similar, but with 

 head, neck, and chest unspotted, sooty black. 

 Young : head more grayish than in winter adults 

 and feathers of back edged with buffy. Length : 

 9, wing 5.80-6.10, bill .85-1.00, tarsus 1.00-1.10. 



Distribution. Pacific coast of North America 

 from Point Barrow to Santa Margarita Island, 

 Fig. 125. Winter Plumage. Lower California ; breeding- from British Colum- 

 bia northward. 

 Nest and eggs as in morinella. 



FAMILY H JEM ATOP O DID JE : OYSTER-CATCHERS. 



GENUS HJEMATOPUS. 



General Characters. Bill straight and flattened, chisel-shaped ; bright 

 red in adult, brownish in young- ; feet and legs short and stout, red ; tail 

 square across end. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



1. Belly and base of tail white frazari, p. 107. 



1 . Belly and whole plumage blackish bachmaiii, p. 107. 



286.1. Hsematopus frazari Brewst. FRAZAR OYSTER-CATCHER. 



Adults. Head and neck greenish black ; back rich dark brown ; tail and 

 wing quills brownish black ; under parts, base of tail, and patch on wing, 

 white. Length: 17-21, wing- 9.75-10.27. bill 2.99-3.05, tarsus 2.18-2.30. 



Distribution. Coasts of southern and Lower California, north to Ven- 

 tura County. 



The white-bellied oyster-catchers reported from southern Califor- 

 nia are assumed to \)e frazari instead oipalliatus of the Atlantic coast. 



287. Haematopus bachmani Aud. BLACK OYSTER-CATCHER. 

 Adults. Head and neck dull bluish black ; rest of plumage brown- 

 ish black. Young : duller, 

 more brownish. Length : 

 17.00-17.50, wing- 

 9.60-10.75, bill 

 2.50-2.95, tarsus 

 Fig. 126. 1.85-2.25. Fig. 127. 



