278 BULLETIN 14 6, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Fall imgratloiu — Early dates of fall arrival are: Alaskan coast, 

 Sitka, July 21, and Nushagak, August 9 ; British Columbia, Poreher 

 Island, July 12, and Queen Charlotte Islands, Au«i;ust 2; OreiTon, 

 Newport, July 24; and California, Monterey Bay, August 3, and 

 Point Pinos, August 5. 



Late dates of fall departure are: Alaska, Craig, September 4, 

 Sitka, September 5, and Nome, September 9; British Columbia, 

 Comox, September 2; Oregon, Netarts Bay, November 19; and 

 California, Berkeley, October 24. 



Egg dates. — Alaska : One record, May 28, 1926. 



ARENARIA INTERPRES (Linnaeus) 

 TURNSTONE 



HAIUTS 



The above species is cosmopolitan; it has a circumpolar breeding 

 range, and its migrations extend over nearly all of the Northern 

 Hemisphere and a large part of the Southern. It has been split into 

 two, or possibly three, geographical races. In the author's opinion 

 only two races should be recognized ; the Palaearctic form, interpres^ 

 averages slightly larger, and is decidedly darker, the black pre- 

 dominating over the rufous on the upper parts; the Nearctic form, 

 "niOTinella., averages slightly smaller, is decidedly lighter, the rufous 

 predominating on the upper parts; these two races are well marked 

 and are generally recognized. The Pacific race has been described 

 under the name oahiiensis^ from specimens taken on Oahu Island in 

 the Hawaiian group. It is supposed to breed in Alaska and spend 

 the winter in the Hawaiian and other Pacific islands. It seems to 

 be strictly intermediate, both in size and color, between interjyres 

 and raorinella. Some of the best authorities have not recognized it 

 in nomenclature, which seems to be a wise course. For the purpose of 

 this life history the species as a whole will be considered. 



Spring. — The northward migration of the ruddy turnstone 

 through the United States is accomplished mainly during May, but 

 many linger along through the first week in June. I have seen turn- 

 stones in Louisiana as late as June 17 and 23, but some that I shot 

 were immature birds, apparently 1 year old, which probably would 

 not breed that season. Arthur T. Wayne (1910) has seen high 

 plumaged birds in South Carolina on June 11 and 12, which were 

 doubtless late migrants ; but he says that birds in immature or winter 

 plumage are seen in June more frequently than adults. These 

 latter illustrate the well-established fact that many shore birds do 

 not attain their full plumage and do not breed during their first year. 



