608 



SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. —LIMICOL^. 



57. Subfamily STREPSILAIN^ : Turnstones. 



The character of the subfamily should be constructed to 

 include Aphriza, unless Strepsilas and Aphriza may con- 

 stitute two subfamilies of a family Aphrizidce. (See p. 605, 

 under Aphrizince.) 

 323. STREP'SILAS. (Gr. o-rpe^ts, strepsis, a turning over, 

 \as, las, a stone. Fig. 4:22.) Turnstones. Bill shorter 

 than head, not longer than tarsus, constricted at base, then 

 tapering to an acute tip, almost a little recurved. Culmen 

 straight or a little concave, especially over nostrils; com- 

 missure straight or slightly recurved ; under outline curving up from the base, or straight to 

 angle, then gonys ascending. Nasal fossae short and broad, about half the length of the bill ; 



Fig. 422. — Bill of Turnstone, 

 B. (Ad nat. del. E. C.) 



Fig. 423. — Turnstone, J nat. size. (From Brehm.) 



grooving of under mandible short and shallow. Gonys longer than mandibular rami. Wings 

 long and pointed. Tail short, a little rounded, scarcely or not half as long as wing. Legs 

 short and stout ; tibise little denuded ; tarsus scutellate in front, reticulate on sides and behind, 

 about as long as middle toe and claw. Toes 4, the hinder short, but as well developed as in 

 sandpipers gfnerally, the front toes cleft to tlie base. Claws curved, compressed, acute. 

 There is probably but one cosmopolitan species, the scientific and vernacular names of which 

 are both derived from its habit of turning over pebbles along the shore in search of food. 



