CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 213 



Alaska, breeding in some places, but as a migrant in others. On 

 the British Columbia coast it is always a migrant and not a common 

 one. 



Preble, Low, Bell and other collectors record the turnstone from 

 the Hudson bay region, Preble as morinella, the earlier collectors as 

 interpres. Without specimens it is of course impossible to deter- 

 mine the species to which records made before 1 899 should go, but 

 so far as known true interpres is, in North America, confined to 

 Greenland and Alaska, an occasional specimen being taken farther 

 south on both sides of the continent. Most of the earlier Alaskan 

 references doubtless refer to true interpres. The occurrence of 

 intermediate forms makes it appear probable that morinella is at 

 best only a sub-species. 



Breeding Notes. — In June, 1864, a dozen birds were observed 

 at Fort Anderson, and one was shot. This species breeds on the 

 shores of Liverpool and Franklin bays, and on the lower Anderson 

 river. Several nests were secured in the latter region; but none 

 were met with in the Barren Grounds. Four was the maximum 

 number of eggs in a nest, which was similar to that of the other 

 waders. (Macfarlane.) 



284. Black Turnstone. 



Arenaria melanocephala (ViG.) Stejn. 1884. 



This species is far more plentiful on the coast of Bering sea than 

 the preceding species and is one of the most abundant waders from 

 Sitka north along the mainland and coast of Alaska. I found it 

 also along the coast of the Arctic sea from Bering strait to Point 

 Barrow, and it was also observed sparingly on St. Lawrence island. 

 It breeds among the brackish pools on St. Michael island, and is 

 found scattered over the brackish flats everywhere. (Nelson.) 

 Although I did not find the nest and eggs of the bird, it breeds 

 along the entire coast of the mainland of Alaska. It is one of the 

 earliest arrivals in the vicinity of St. Michael and after the ice has 

 left the shores it is ever on the alert for food along the beach. 

 (Turner.) Four adult specimens taken at Orca, Prince William 

 sound, Alaska. (Grinnell.) Common at Homer, Alaska, during 

 migration. (Figgins.) 



