TURN-STONE. 353 



Here they are resident, burying themselves in the mud during the win- 

 ter, but early in the month of May they approach the shore in multi- 

 tudes, to obey the great law of nature, in depositing their eggs within 

 the influence of the sun, and are then very troublesome to the fisher- 

 men, who can scarcely draw a seine for them, they are so numerous. 

 Being of slow motion, and easily overset by the surf, their dead bodies 

 cover the shore in heaps, and in such numbers, that for ten miles one 

 might walk on them without touching the ground. 



The hogs from the neighboring country are regularly driven down, 

 every spring, to feed on them, which they do with great avidity ; though 

 by this kind of food their flesh acquires a strong disagreeable fishy taste. 

 Even the small turtles, or terrapins, so eagerly sought after by our epi- 

 cures, contract so rank a taste by feeding on the spawn of the king 

 crab, as to be at such times altogether unpalatable. This spawn may 

 sometimes be seen lying in hollows and eddies in bushels ; while the 

 Snipes and Sandpipers, particularly the Turn-stone, are hovering about, 

 feasting on the delicious fare. The dead bodies of the animals them- 

 selves are hauled up in wagons for manure, and when placed at the hills 

 of corn, in planting time, are said to enrich the soil, and add greatly 

 to the increase of the crop. 



The Turn-stone derives its name from another singularity it possesses, 

 of turning over, with its bill, small stones and pebbles in search of 

 various marine worms and insects. At this sort of work it is exceed- 

 ingly dexterous ; and even when taken and domesticated, is said to 

 retain the same habit.* Its bill seems particularly well constructed 

 for this purpose, difi"ering from all the rest of its tribe, and very much 

 resembling, in shape, that of the common Nuthatch. We learn from 

 Mr. Pennant, that these birds inhabit Hudson's Bay, Greenland, and 

 the arctic flats of Siberia, where they breed, wandering southerly in 

 autumn. It is said to build on the ground, and to lay four eggs, of an 

 olive color spotted with black ; and to inhabit the isles of the Baltic 

 during summer. 



The Turn-stone flies with a loud twittering note, and runs with its 

 wings lowered ; but not with the rapidity of others of its tribe. It ex- 

 amines more completely the same spot of ground, and, like some of the 

 Woodpeckers, will remain searching in the same place, tossing the stones 

 and pebbles from side to side for a considerable time. 



These birds vary greatly in color, scarcely two individuals are to be 

 found alike in markings. These varieties are most numerous in autumn, 

 when the young birds are about, and are less frequently met with in 

 spring. The most perfect specimens I have examined are as follows : 



Length eight inches and a half, extent seventeen inches ; bill black- 



♦ Catesby. 

 Vol. II.— 23 



