STREPSILAS INTERPRES 303 



The Lapwing frequents marshy plains and moist localities, as a 

 rule, but may also often be found in fallow-fields and cultivated 

 districts. During the winter and on passage it may be observed in 

 vast flocks, which break up on the approach of the breeding season, 

 though even at that period the bird is gregarious to a certain extent. 



It is shy and wary, and in the open localities it frequents is not 

 easily approached. Its flight is slow and measured, but graceful and 

 particularly light and buoyant. Its well-known call-note is fairly 

 rendered by the syllables "pee-wit, pee-wit." 



Its food consists of worms, slugs and insects. Large numbers 

 of this bird are sold in the markets of many towns, but its flesh 

 cannot be compared for flavour or delicacy with that of the Golden 

 Plover. Its eggs, however, are highly esteemed and form quite 

 an important article of commerce in countries where they are obtain- 

 able. In Holland a large trade is carried on in Plover's eggs, and 

 a considerable number are annually exported thence to England. 

 Fortunately for the preservation of the species there is a " close 

 time " in Holland. 



STREPSILAS INTERPRES (Linnaaus). 

 TURNSTONE. 



Tringa interpres, Linn. Sijst. Nat. i, p. 248 (1766). 



Strepsilas interpres, Illiger, Prodr. p. 263 (1811) ; Loche, Expl. Sci. 



Alg. Ois. ii, p. 281 (1867) ; Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 271 ; id. J. f. 0. 



1893, p. 85. 

 Arenaria interpres, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxxiv, p. 345 (1819) ; 



Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiv, p. 92 ; Erlanger, J. f. 0. 1900, 



p. 61. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Marocco. 



Lores, and a band above the forehead, extending backwards over and 

 behind the eyes and round the nape, whitish ; a black band across the 

 forehead extending downwards in front of the eyes and meeting the black 

 bands on each side of the throat ; crown and part of the neck striped with 

 blackish -brown ; back and scapulars black, variegated with chestnut ; rump 

 white ; upper tail-coverts blackish above, and white below ; median rectrices 

 white at the base, and blackish on the terminal portion, the remaining 

 rectrices the same, but tipped with white ; quills blackish, with white 



