SAND DUNES AND SALT MARSHES 



The Hudsonian godwit with upturned bill, 

 the willet, the Baird's and the stilt sandpipers, 

 I must merely mention by name, but the turn- 

 stone or chicken plover compels more than 

 passing notice. His coral red legs and his 

 black and tan and white " calico " back make 

 him a marked bird, and his great variety of 

 call notes adds to his distinction. He derives 

 his name '' turnstone " from the singular but 

 useful habit he possesses of turning over 

 stones for the small crustaceans concealed 

 there. But he does not stop at turning stones, 

 for he is particularly adept at turning over 

 masses of seaweed, sometimes almost as large 

 as himself. In fact he literally " roots " in 

 the seaweed like a pig, and like a pig he grows 

 inordinately fat. 



Although very shy when pursued with a 

 gun, I have found the turnstone a delightful 

 bird to study with a glass, for he appears to 

 grasp the situation and to recognize the 

 friendly attitude so well that I have been 

 able to approach within a few feet of the 

 " rooting " bird and watch every motion. 



What a joy it would be to have a return 

 of the old conditions, when terns and piping 

 plover bred in the dunes, and when shore birds 



158 



