CHARADRIAD^. SOI 



robust, and covered with small scales ; the toes long, the 

 lateral ones unequal, and free at their bases, the hind toe 

 rather long, slender, and elevated. 



Genus CINCLUS, Mcehring. 



Bill rather shorter than the head, straight, and slightly 

 depressed at the base, with the culmen straight, and the sides 

 much compressed to the tip, which is truncated ; the lateral 

 margins of both mandibles curved upwards at the tip ; the 

 gonys moderate and ascending ; the nostrils lateral, and 

 placed in a membranous groove, that extends half the length 

 of the upper mandible, with the opening linear, and longitu- 

 dinal ; wings veiy long and pointed, with the first quill the 

 longest; tail moderate, and slightly rounded; tarsi us long 

 as the middle toe, robust, and covered in front with broad 

 scales ; toes long, the outer rather longer than the inner one, 

 both free at the base, and the sides of all margined by a 

 narrow membrane ; the hind toe elevated, with the tip resting 

 on the ground. 



572. Cinclus Interpres. (Linn.) pi. Eni., 856 ; 



Strepsilas Collaris, Temm. ; Gharadrius Cinclus, Pall. 



General colour of the upper parts, dark-brown, glossed with 

 green and purple, the feathers edged with pale-brown ; fore 

 part and sides of the head, brownish-white, mottled with 

 black ; throat white ; a band on each side from the lower 

 mandible, the side of the head behind the ear-coverts, and 

 the fore part of the neck, black ; the feathers slightly edged 

 with whitish ; the rest of the lower parts pure white, as on 

 the hind part of the back and the upper tail-coverts, some of 

 the rump-feathers, however, being black ; the tail is white at 

 the base, brownish-black toward^ the end, edged externally 

 with light-brown, the outer web of the outer, and the tips of 

 all, excepting the two middle, white ; legs and feet orange ; 

 claws black, as is also the bill ; the lower mandible tinged with 

 red at the base. Length, 9". 9"' ; wing, 6" 4'" ; tail, 2" 9'". 



The Turnstone, is a constant resident on tliese shores, extending 

 upwards as far as the Equinoctial Line. It frequents rocky places iu 

 preference to sandy beaches, feeding on small crustaceans, shells, and the 

 various insects which infest the decaying seaweed. They usually keep 

 in small families of froin four to eight ; do not appear to mingle with 

 the sand-pipers ; and are wary and dilEcult to approach. I fancy it 

 must breed on Robben Island, among the rocks at the northern end. 

 having seen young birds in that neiglibourhood. 



