STREPSILID.E — THE TURNSTOXES — STREPSILAS. 121 



Deriving its name from its singular habit of turning over small stones when search- 

 ing for food, in quest of the marine insects that lurk underneath them, it is as 

 remarkable in its appearance as in its habits. The singular variety of its colors 

 and the beauty of its plumage render it conspicuous, and cause it to be universally 

 noticed. 



Mr. F. Ducane Godman mentions (Ibis, 1866) meeting with this species in the 

 Azores. A few pairs could always be found among the rocks between .Santa Cruz and 

 Punta Delgada, on Flores. He obtained several specimens in June, in the full breeding- 

 plumage, and he had no doubt that they were breeding on the small islands near the 

 coast, as they remained there all the year. He afterward met with others in Fayal, 

 near Capellas, and has no doubt that this bird may be found on the coast of the 

 entire group in greater or less numbers. The same writer, in his paper on the 

 migratory birds of ^Madeira and the Canaries (Ibis, 1871), again expresses his belief 

 that the Turnstone breeds in the Azores, and also on the Canary Islands, where it is 

 not uncommon near the coast. 



Dr. J. C. Merrill mentions the presence of this species during the months of May 

 and June along the coast of Southwestern Texas, and .was confident that it was 

 breeding there — an opinion strongly corroborated by his procuring examples of 

 females with denuded breast, the almost sure evidence of their having been nesting 

 birds. 



jMr. Xelson also speaks of having found the Turnstone as a common migrant 

 along the shores of Lake Michigan, in which neighborhood it arrives about the 15th 

 of May, coming in full l)ridal plumage and remaining into June. It returns again in 

 August, still in the full breeding-plumage, which it loses about the last of that month. 

 It does not leave that neighborhood until about the 20th of December, 



Mr. E. L. Layard, when off Cape St. Francis, Africa, but out of sight of land, 

 observed a flock of four that came off to his vessel. Mr. E. C. Taylor (Ibis, 1878) 

 mentions the procuring by Mr. Fillipponi of three or four examples of this bird in 

 Egypt. 



Mr. E. Swinhoe enumerates this species in his list of the birds of Formosa (Ibis, 

 1863). It comes there in small flocks, and, associating with the Sanderling, departs 

 after a short stay. The same writer, in his paper on the Birds of Hainan, mentions 

 finding large flocks of these birds in the Poochin River on the 5th of March. They 

 sat on the fishing stakes, or ranged themselves in rows on the ropes which ran from 

 one to the other. These birds were all just assuming their summer plumage. 



This species has been taken in Senegal, and specimens of it have also been ob- 

 tained at the Cape of Good Hope. Temminck includes it among the birds of Japan, 

 and mentions having received specimens of it from Xew Guinea, Sunda, and the 

 Moluccas. 



Dr. Middendorff gives it as among the birds of Siberia and Northern Eussia, and 

 includes it among those which go to the extreme north. It is found thence through- 

 out Europe southward to Italy, Sicily, Malta, and Africa. Von Baer met Avith it in 

 Nova Zembla. Professor A. Newton noticed its presence on Spitzbergen, and this 

 was afterward confirmed by Professor A. J. Malmgren (Ibis, 1869), who found a pair 

 on Amsterdam Island. Mr. C. A. Wright mentions it as an irregular and rare visitant 

 of Malta, appearing there in May, August, and September, and once in December. 

 Mr. H. Saunders notices it as appearing regularly in Southern Spain in its migrations. 

 Wheelwright speaks of it as common in the south of SAveden, in the Baltic, and on 

 the Norwegian coast. It goes up far within the Polar Circle. He has found it 

 breeding, and as often sitting on three eggs as on four. 

 VOL. I. — 16. 



