LAPWING.— TURNSTONE. 211 



much esteemed as that of the Golden Plover. In Sussex it 

 is called the " Peewit/^ 



Mr. Booth states that he has " several times, while on the 

 North Sea in October, seen flocks of from three to five 

 hundred, flying slowly and steadily, each keeping its own 

 station, straight for the shores of Norfolk or Suff"olk/' 

 Yet he had never been able to ascertain from the fishermen, 

 or light-keepers, that they had ever been observed on their 

 return journey. We certainly receive large accessions to 

 their numbers in the winter, and, in severe weather, large 

 flocks may be seen flying along the coast, generally from 

 east to west. 



TURNSTONE. 



Strepsilas interpret. 



This very beautiful little bird derives its name from its 

 singular habit of turning over with its bill the pebbles on 

 the beach, or other rejectamenta of the sea, at any distance 

 from which I have never heard of its being seen (possibly 

 from the small size of our rivers) in this county. Tn 

 other counties it is said to have been found on the 

 river-banks far inland. With us a few remain throughout 

 the year, but as a rule the Turnstones arrive in small parties 

 of young birds about the middle of July, though the main 

 body does not make its appearance till about the second 

 week in August. Along the whole coast, from beyond Rye 

 to the borders of Hampshire, they may be found in small 

 parties and, if not too much disturbed, are very tame. 



Some years ago, I was much interested in watching a pair 

 acting in concert in their endeavours to turn over a flat-fish 

 on the beach between Shoreham and Worthing, evidently 



p2 



