358 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



Dr. Brewer himself says, in reviewing Dr. J. A. Allen's 

 list of Massachusetts birds, that in his opinion this species 

 is not to be anticipated in Massachusetts. Nevertheless, as 

 two records have been made since his opinion was promul- 

 gated, the Wilson's Plover may be confidently looked for as a 

 straggler at least in Massachusetts. It formerly bred north 

 to New Jersey and probably visited New England during the 

 late summer, as at that time birds are given to wandering, 

 and some species from the southern States occasionally reach 

 New England. Like all the shore birds which formerly bred 

 along the x\tlantic coast, it has been reduced much in numbers 

 and extirpated from the more northern part of its breeding 

 ground, where spring and summer gunners are numerous, and, 

 like the other species, it will disappear from the Atlantic 

 coast unless such gunning is prohibited on all coasts within 

 its breeding range. This bird may be distinguished at once 

 from the Ring-neck by its larger size, its large head and its 

 large black bill. It feeds on insects, crustaceans, etc. 



Turnstones. 



The Turnstones (Subfamily Arenariince) somewhat resem- 

 ble the Plovers, but they have four toes, and the bill, which is 

 shorter than the head and quite straight, is very hard, and 

 tapers from about the middle to a sharp point. The legs are 

 rather short and stout, and the toes are not webbed but 

 narrowly margined. Turnstones are distributed generally over 

 the globe. The few species are known everywhere by their 

 peculiar habits. Only one inhabits the eastern coast of North 

 America. This species, so long sought by gunners and sports- 

 men, has been saved from extinction because it breeds in the far 

 north, on the coasts and islands of the Arctic Ocean, where it is 

 comparatively safe from mankind during the breeding season; 

 but it will continue to decrease in numbers unless better pro- 

 tected. The very least that should be done for its conser- 

 vation is to prohibit spring shooting all along the Atlantic 

 coast of the United States. 



