^'^- STKEPSILAS IMERPRES. 



riABITS. 



Oil 0111- voyiige southward in the yacht Nina, we met with the Oyster Catchers for 

 the first tune, at Smithville, North Carolina. This was hite in November and they were 

 evidently established there fjr the winter, for they frequented the oyster bars in the har- 

 bor, in large numbers. At high water, they would retreat to the sand bars on the beaeh 

 ridge, whore they would sit perfectly quiet, with their heads drawn in and their bills in- 

 clining downward, mueli after the inauner of Wi)od30ck. But when the outgoing tide- 

 left the tops of the oyster bars exposed, they would come flying silently in, at first singly » 

 then in pairs, while groups of a few would follow, until, at last, they would come in flocks- 

 of a dozen or more. They would alight among the oysters and when the bivalves gaped 

 open, as is their habit when the water first leaves them, the birds would thrust in the point 

 of their hard, flat bills, divide the ligament with which the s'.iells are f istened together^ 

 then, having the helpless inhabitant at their mercy, would at once devour it. They were- 

 not long in making a meal, for specimens which I shot after they had been feeding a short 

 time, were so crammed that by simply hohling a bird l)y the legs and shaking it gently, the 

 oysters would tall from its month. They appeared to feed almost exclusively on this kind 

 of food at Snlith^ille, for I never found anything else in their stomachs; in fact, they ate 

 so many oysters that their flesh was strongly flavored with them. 



Oyster Catchers are quite shy when shot at frequently and as they are difficult to kill^ 

 it is not easy to procure specimens. When one is knocked down, the collector is not sure 

 of it, as they not only run with great swiftness but swim and dive nearly as well a3 Dacks,. 

 and a wounded bird, if able to run, will at once take to the water. When disturbed, they 

 rise with loud screams and if captured after being disabled, utter similar cries which are 

 apt to attract the attention of their companions, causing them to circle about. 



In Florida, I found large flocks of these birds on the marshes back of Amelia Isl-nid, 

 gathering about the fresh water ponds to drink and bathe; here they were unusually shy> 

 not allowing me to come within a hundred yards of them. Oyster Catchers breed along the 

 sandy beaches of the coast and adjacent islands, from Florida to New Jersey, nesting about 

 June. 



(iENUS II. STRRPSILAS. THE TURNSTON-ES. 



Gen. Cii. Bil/, short, ahinit as long as the hraii, but not compressed laterally at tip. Hind toe, present. Stomnehr 

 museular. Fnrcula, not well arched. 



JNIemliers of tliis genus, have the outer luar^iaal indentations much Jseiier than inner. Sese*, similar. There is but 

 one spe(aes within our limit.s. 



STEEPSILAS INTERPEES. 

 Turnstone. 



^Irepsilns inlerpres Ii.i,., Proil.; IKll. '26:?. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Si'. Cii. Enrm, robust. Size, not large. Tlill, not long Steruum, stout. Tongue, ratlier long, tliin, not wide at 

 base, and niirrowing toward tip which is rounded. 



Color. Adult. Sides of head andneuk, rump, up|ier tail coverts, under portions, ".nd tail, wliite, with hand on latter. 

 Crescent shaped marlc on upper covert^, broad band on neck, extending down on side of breast and in a line hack of ear 

 ei>veyts, line from lower mandible to throat patch, another line from forehead to eye, passing under it into tlie last. an(}' 



