THE BLACK TURNSTONE. 693 



several times as heaxy, insert its lieak and give an o<Ui little bunt and upward 

 jerk which would send the clod rolling a foot or more. Sometimes a lump, 

 more firmly imbedded, offered resistance, in which case the bird would make 

 another honest effort, or pass on imconcerned. 



In flight the Turnstones bunch closely at first, but afterward scatter a lit- 

 tle more widely, and wheel and turn after the manner of Killdeers in autumn. 

 The chief impression is of flashing white, as they quarter before the sun, or 

 as tliev settle again in some distant portion of the field witli wings daintily 

 uplifted. 



The nesting season, spent in Alaska and the high North, is astonishingly 

 brief. The tardy ones are not all cleared by the first of June, and I have 

 encountered the vanguard of the return as early as July 17th, upon Destruction 

 Island. 



No. 282. 



BLACK TURNSTONE. 



A. O. U. No. 284. Arenaria melanocephala (\ig. ). 



Synonym. — BL.-^CK-HE.xDK.n TfRNSToNit. 



Description. — Adult in siiiiniwr: Color pattern of plumage SdUiewliat as m 

 preceding, but without chestnut; whole head, neck, upper back, and breast brown- 

 ish black, varied by sooty centers of feathers, glossed with greenish on crown 

 and back, shading bv white tips of feathers on breast into white of underparts ; 

 a white loral spot and some speckling of white on forehead ; lower back, rump, 

 and upper tail-coverts white, the last-named with included central patch of black ; 

 wings and tail as in .-/. nwrincUa. .Idiilts in ivintcr: Similar, but head, chest, and 

 neck uniform sooty black. Iininatiirc: Like adult in winter, but head grayer and 

 back with buffy edgings. Length of adult about 9.00 (228.6) ; wing 6.00 

 (152.4) ; bill .85-1.00 (21.6-25.4) : tarsus 1.08 (27.4). 



Recognition Marks. — Chewink to Robin size; absence of rufous, and fore- 

 parts chiefly black, distinctive in summer; but requires careful discrimination 

 from Surf Bird (Aphrica virgata) whose foreparts are chiefly diiskv in winter 

 plumage. 



Nesting. — Not known to breed in Washington. Mcst and Ec/f/s nnich as in 

 A. Ill prill el la. 



General Range. — Breeding along Pacific and Arctic Coast of North America 

 from British Columbia to Point Barrow; south in winter to Lower California. 



Range in Washington. — Abundant spring and late summer migrant along 

 the West Coast; less freciuent on coast and islands of Puget Sounrl ; perhaps 

 sparingly resident in winter. 



Authorities. — Strcpsilas iiiclaitoccphaliis. \'igors., Baird, Re]5. Pac. R. R. 

 Surv. IN. 1858. p. 702. "Fort Steilacoom, Cal." [W. T.]. C&S. L-'. E. 



Specimens. — ( U. of W.) Prov. C. E. 



