376 



CITIZEN BIRD 



children tumbled out in their ihmnel bathing-suits to 

 have a dip before breakfast. Rap, by rolling over and 

 over on tlie sand, was in the water as soon as Nat ; but 

 they did not venture out far, even though 

 the tide was low, contenting them- 

 splashing about in 

 ' })laces. 



sently Nat spied 

 something on the 

 stony end of 

 the bar that 

 stretched out 

 at the right of the 

 beach, and pointed 

 it out to Rap, who 

 said : '' Tliey are 

 some sort of birds : 

 you had better get 

 the glass, for even if we could go nearer to them, they 

 would be sure to see us and skip." Then Nat brought 

 the glass and they each took a peep. 



" The bodies are like speckled Pullets', but the heads 

 are like Pigeons' and the legs are very thin," said 

 Rap. "See! there is a different one, ever so much 

 nearer over on this side, but I can't make him out very 

 well. Here comes the Doctor, all ready to go in swim- 

 ming ; of course he can tell us." 



" Those mottled birds with red legs are Turnstones," 

 said the Doctor, after looking a moment. "They are 

 wading shore birds, who run about the rock bars and 

 sandy beaches, turning over small stones for the food 

 that is hidden underneath. They very seldom come 



Turnstone. 



