292 



BBITISH BIRDS 



country, their places being taken by others from more northern 

 regions. Throughout the British Islands it is a fairly common species, 

 but it is believed that for many years past the lapwing has been 

 decreasing in numbers, chiefly on account of the demand for plovers' 

 eggs, and of unrestricted egging. 



Turnstone. 

 Strepsilus interpres. 



Fig. 99 Turnstone. I natural size. 



Head, neck, breast, and shoulders variegated with black and 

 white ; upper surface black and chestnut-red ; rump white ; tail- 

 feathers and a patch on the coverts dark brown ; under parts 

 white ; legs and feet orange. Female : not so bright. Length, 

 nine inches. 



The turnstone is very nearly of a size with the song-thrush, 

 although its conspicuous black-and-white and curiously marked 

 plumage causes it to appear much bigger to the eye. The plumage 

 is very handsome, the upper parts being mottled with black and 

 red — a tortoiseshell colouring which is rare in birds. It is a visitor 

 to our coasts after the breeding season, the young birds arriving 

 towards the end of July, the adults following in August, after the 

 moult. From the east coast of England most of the birds depart 



