TURNS TONE 997 
habit of turning over with its bill such stones as it can to seek its 
food in the small crustaceans or otheranimals 
lurking beneath them. It is the Tringa 
interpres* of Linneus and Strepsilas interpres 
of most later writers, and is remarkable as 
being perhaps the most cosmopolitan of 
birds; for, though properly belonging to 
the northern hemisphere, there is scarcely 
a sea-coast in the world on which it may not occur: it has been 
obtained from Spitsbergen to the Strait of Magellan and from 
Point Barrow to the Cape of Good Hope and New Zealand— 
examples from the southern hemisphere being, however, almost 
invariably in a state of plumage that shews, if not immaturity, 
yet an ineptitude for reproduction. It also, though much less 
commonly, resorts to the margins of inland rivers and lakes ; but 
it is very rarely seen except in the neighbourhood of water, and 
salt water for preference. 
The Turnstone is about as big as an ordinary Snipe; but, 
compared with most of its allies of the group Lim1coLa, to which it 
belongs, its form is somewhat heavy, and its legs are short. Still 
it is brisk in its movements, and its variegated plumage makes it a 
pleasing bird. Seen in front, its white face, striped with black, 
and broad black gorget attract attention as it sits, often motionless, 
on the rocks; while in flight the white of the lower part of the 
back and white band across the wings are no less conspicuous even 
at a distance. A nearer view will reveal the rich chestnut of the 
mantle and upper wing-coverts, and the combination of colours 
suggests the term ‘‘tortoise-shell” often applied to it, while the 
quill-feathers are mostly of a dark brown and its lower parts pure 
white. The deeper tints are, however, peculiar to the nuptial 
plumage, or are only to be faintly traced at other times, so that in 
winter the adults—and the young always—have a much plainer 
appearance, ashy-grey and white being almost the only hues 
observable. From the fact that Turnstones may be met with at 
almost any season in various parts of the world,” and especially on 
TuRNsTONE. (After Swainson.) 
1676 ; but he gave as an alias that of Sea-Dottrel (i.e. Ringed Plover) under 
which name a drawing, figured by him (pl. 58), was sent to him by Sir Thomas 
Browne. 
1 Linneus (G7. och Gothlindska Resa, p. 217), who first met with this bird 
on the island of Gottland, 1st July 1741, was under the mistaken belief that it 
was there called Tolk (=<nterpres). But that name properly belongs to the 
REDSHANK, from the cry of warning to other animals that it utters on the 
approach of danger (cf. TELLTALE). 
2 The authors of The Water Birds of North America (i. p. 123) in reference 
to this fact raise the pertinent question, ‘‘ Do birds, after they have become old, 
effete, or barren, prefer to stay in a warm climate ?” 
