THE TURNSTONE. 



Qj 



(5 HIS siiuiU plover-like bird is 

 found on the sea-coasts of 

 nearly all countries ; in Amer- 

 ica, from Greenland and Alaska 

 to Chili and Brazil ; more or less com- 

 mon in the interior along the shores of 

 the Great Lakes and larger rivers. 



It is generally found in company 

 with flocks of the smaller species ot 

 Sandpipers, its boldly marked plumage 

 contrasting with surroundings, while 

 the Sandpipers mingle with the sands 

 and unless revealed by some abrupt 

 movement can hardly be seen at a little 

 distance. 



The name Turnstone has been 

 applied to this bird on account of its 

 curious habit of dexterously inserting 

 its bill beneath stones and pebbles along 

 the shore in quest of food, overturning 

 them in search of the insects or prey 

 of any kind which may be lurking 

 beneath. It is found on smooth, sandy 

 beaches, though more commonly about 

 the base of rocky cliffs and cones. 

 The eggs of horseshoe crabs are its 

 particular delight. 



In the nesting season the Turnstone 

 is widely distributed throughout the 

 northern portions of both continents, 

 and wanders southward alonsf the sea- 



coasts of all countries. In America it 

 breeds commonly in the Barren Lands 

 of the Arctic coasts and the Anderson 

 River districts, on the Islands of 

 Franklin and Liverpool bays, nesting 

 in July. In the Hudson's Bay country 

 the eggs are laid in June. The nest is 

 a hollow scratched in the earth, and is 

 lined with bits of grass. 



The Turnstone is known by various 

 names : "Brant Bird, " " Bead Bird," 

 " Horse-foot-Snipe, " " Sand-runner," 

 "Calico-back," " Chicaric " and 

 "Chickling." The two latter names 

 have reference to its rasping notes, 

 "Calico-back," to the variegated 

 plumage of the upper parts. 



In summer the adults are oddly pied 

 above with black, white, brown, and 

 chestnut-red, but the red is totally 

 wanting in winter. They differ from 

 the true Plovers in the well developed 

 hind-toe, and the strong claws, but 

 chiefly in the more robust feet, without 

 trace of web between the toes. 



The eggs are greenish-drab in color, 

 spotted, blotched, and dotted irregularly 

 and thickly with yellowish and umber 

 brown. The eggs are two or four, 

 abruptly pyriform in shape. 



SNOWBIRDS. 



Along the narrow sandy height 

 I watch them Swiftly come and go, 



Or round the leafless wood, 

 Like flurries of wind-driven snow, 

 Revolving in perpetual flight, 

 A changing multitude. 



Nearer and nearer still they sway. 

 And, scattering in a circled sweep, 



Rush down without a sound ; 

 And now I see them peer and peep, 

 Across yon level bleak and gray, 

 Searching the frozen ground, — 



Until a little wind upheaves, 



And makes a sudden rustling there, 



And then they drop their play. 

 Flash up into the sunUss air. 

 And like a flight of silver leaves 

 Swirl round and sweep nway. 



Archib.'^ld Lampman. 



170 



