134 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 



flocks sometimes visit Lundy Island on migration. 

 Mr. Mitchell notices that most of those which 

 breed on Dartmoor leave their summer haunts in 

 October, returning in March to their nesting 

 grounds. 



TURNSTONE.— 6?rP/?.s//rts interpres (Linn). 



An autumn visitant, occasionally wintering and 

 lingering also in spring, until summer plumage is 

 advanced. Small parties are the rule on our 

 estuaries, but Mr, Gurney reports that large flocks 

 frequented the mud flats atlnstow in September, 1871. 



OYSTERCATCHEn.—Emnatojms ostralegus, Linn. 



A WINTER visitant, but met with all the year. The 

 Warren at Exmouth is a favourite locality, and a 

 pair of Oystercatchers seen there in June 1888, 

 were probably breeding. Dr. Elliot writes from 

 Kingsbridge : "A small colony was destroyed 

 around the Start by the dastardly act of a visitor 

 at Torcross a few years ago. A few occur but 

 none breed now." Mr. Rawson reports that it 

 breeds on the North Coast of Devon, and Mr. 

 Mitchell says ; " Common on the Coasts of Devon 

 all the year. Nests on Lundy Island." In 1880, 

 we find the keeper of the Bideford Lighthouse 

 reporting; " Hundreds of Sea-pies .... visit the 

 mussel beds every winter, being seen every day 

 and night from half ebb to half flood " (Migration 

 Report, 1880. p. 112). In 1881 we find a similar 



