TURNSTONE. 



LIMWOLJE. 



289 



CHA RA DRIID/E. 



Steepsilas interpres (Lmn£eus^). 



THE TUENSTONE. 



Strepsilas interpres. 



Strepsilas, //%e}-t.— Beak as short as the head, strong, thick at the base, 

 tapering gradually to the point, forming an elongated cone ; upper mandible the 

 longer, rather blunt at the end. Nostrils basal, lateral, linear, pervious, partly 

 covered by a membrane. Wings long, pointed, the first quill-feather the longest. 

 Feet four-toed, three in front, one behind ; the anterior toes united by a 

 membrane at the base, and furnished with narrow rudimentary interdigital 

 membranes ; hind toe articulated upon the tarsus, and just reaching the ground. 



The name of Turnstone has long been applied to this 

 species from the method adopted by these birds of searching 

 for food by turning over small stones with their strong 

 beaks to get at the marine insects that lurk under them. 



* Trinr/a Interpres, Linnajus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 248 (1766). 

 + Prodromus Syst. Mamm. et Av. p. 263 (1811). 

 VOL. III. p p 



