THE BLACK TURNSTONE. 693 
several times as heavy, insert its beak and give an odd little bunt and upward 
jerk which would send the clod rolling a foot or more. Sometimes a lump, 
more firmly imbedded, offered resistance, in which case the bird would make 
another honest effort, or pass on unconcerned. 
In flight the Turnstones bunch closely at first, but afterward scatter a lit- 
tle more widely, and wheel and turn after the manner of Willdeers in autumn. 
The chief impression is of flashing white, as they quarter before the sun, or 
as they settle again in some distant portion of the field with wings daintily 
uplifted. 
The nesting season, spent in Alaska and the high North, is astonishingly 
brief. The tardy ones are not all cleared by the first of June, and I have 
encountered the vanguard of the return as early as July 17th, upon Destruction 
Island. 
No. 282. 
BLACK TURNSTONE. 
A. O. U. No. 284. Arenaria melanocephala (Vig.). 
Synonym.—BLaAck-HEADED 'TURNSTONE. 
Description.—A dult in summer: Color pattern of plumage somewhat as in 
preceding, but without chestnut ; whole head, neck, upper back, and breast brown- 
ish black, varied by sooty centers of feathers, glossed with greenish on crown 
and back, shading by white tips of feathers on breast into white of underparts; 
a white loral spot and some speckling of white on forehead; lower back, rump, 
and upper tail-coverts white, the last-named with included central patch of black ; 
wings and tail as in 4A. morinella. Adults m winter: Similar, but head, chest, and 
neck uniform sooty black. Jimmature: Like adult in winter, but head grayer and 
back with buffy edgings. Length of adult about 9.00 (228.6); wing 6.00 
(152.4) ; bill .85-1.00 (21.6-25.4) ; tarsus 1.08 (27.4). 
Recognition Marks.—Chewink to Robin size; absence of rufous, and fore- 
parts chiefly black, distinctive in summer; but requires careful discrimination 
from Surf Bird (Aphriza virgata) whose foreparts are chiefly dusky in winter 
plumage. 
Nesting.—Not known to breed in Washington. Nest and Eggs much as in 
A. morinella. 
General Range.—Preeding along Pacific and Arctic Coast of North America 
from British Columbia to Point Barrow; south in winter to Lower California. 
Range in Washington.—Abundant spring and late summer migrant along 
the West Coast; less frequent on coast and islands of Puget Sound; perhaps 
sparingly resident in winter. 
Authorities.—Strepsilas melanocephalus, Vigors., Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. 
Sliver Neeson ps 70256 Hort Steilacoom: Cale Weeds (C&S: 25 Ee 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) Prov. C. E. 
