TURNSTONE. 205 



Although, on passage, the Turnstone occasionally visits 

 inland waters, its favourite haunts are at the edge of the 

 waves, either on tide-washed reefs or rocks. In its feeding 

 habits it proves the value of its short pick-axe bill, using it 

 as a lever to tip up and throw over large stones, hence its 

 name, and with an upward sweep jerk the long strands of 

 tangle aside, and quickly pounce on the astonished sand- 

 hoppers, small crabs, and molluscs. I have watched it hunt- 

 ing with Purple Sandpipers when the surf churned over the 

 rocks, lifting the weed and submerging its orange legs ; its 

 movements were then deliberate, but on the litter at high-water 

 mark it runs quickly, its keen eye detecting any stone or bit of 

 weed beneath which crustaceans may be sheltering. Never, so 

 far as I have noticed, is a stone turned a second time. There 

 are several oft-repeated stories of co-operation or "mutual aid" 

 when the stone or dead fish was too heavy for the efforts of one 

 bird, but I have once only seen two work at the same stone, 

 and it appeared to me that competition rather than combina- 

 tion had attracted them to a likely food spot. Dr. Patten tells 

 how a Turnstone in his aviary killed three newly hatched 

 Californian Quails by turning them two or three times a day, 

 possibly mistaking them for fluffy weed. On shingle the 

 variegated plumage is a useful protection ; the bird is almost 

 invisible. It is tame or indifferent, and will permit close 

 approach before it takes wing with a short. Redpoll-like trill ; as 

 it flies the white on the wing and lower back are conspicuous, 

 the bird flickering black and white. 



In summer dress, fully attained by the end of April, the head, 

 lower back, and under parts are white, banded and blotched on 

 the cheeks, neck, and breast, and streaked on the crown with 

 black ; the back and wings are variegated with black and warm 

 chestnut. The bill and irides are blackish brown, the legs 

 bright orange. In winter the bird is darker and browner, the 

 blacks replaced by greyish brown, and the whites on head and 



