AMERIOAN ORNITHOLOGY. 267 



for, in some ways, they are unique in that particular. Like all shore 

 birds they are often seen at the water's edge, chasing down the beach 

 after each receding wave, rapidly gathering up the marine insects that are 

 left by it, and quickly retreating as the next breaker rolls in. They have 

 also learned that a great many insects or small Crustacea may be found 

 under pebbles, stones, driftwood, etc., and they use their peculiar 

 shaped bills for turning these over so that they can get them. They 

 insert their bill under the edge of small stones, and using it as a lever 

 manage to move them from their places. Often they will push against 

 larger pieces of driftwood with their breast in their endeavor to see 

 what is beneath. Whether this manner of procuring food is a result of 

 the shape of the bill or whether the bill has become modified because 

 of continued use as a lever, is somewhat of a mystery, but it is prob- 

 ably the latter as it is the accepted line of evolution. 



They are very common in the far north and have been found breed- 

 ing as far as man has been. When their nesting ground is invaded, 

 they rise'in the air and circle about the intruder with shrill calls of 

 alarm. In this respect they differ from the shore birds with which we 

 are most familiar, for the latter usually leave the nest and slip away 

 with as little disturbance as possible, thereby often avoiding discovery. 

 Like those of all other plovers, their young are hatched with a cover- 

 ing of down and are able to leave the nest within a few hours and fol- 

 low their parents. Turnstones make no nest, but lay their three or 

 four eggs in slight hollows in the sand, often under the shelter of rocks 

 or concealed by grass. The eggs are buffy, handsome blotched with 

 brown, black and lavender. The young are hatched about the middle 

 of July and by the end of August are ready to accompany their parents 

 on their long journey. 



