128 A. L. V. Manniche. 



An old female was shot May 22"«^ 1907 on Renskæret. [Near 

 the field-ice]. In the stomach of this bird I found only remains of 

 plants. The early arrival of this specimen may certainly be con- 

 sidered accidental, as the coming of this species — like that of 

 other waders — was very regular; they arrived indeed all on the 

 very same day and hour; as before said, in the two summers re- 

 spectively June 2"^^ and May 28'^. 



Just after their arrival the Turnstones will mainly feed on ve- 

 getable food. However I often saw them run about on the snowless 

 spots of stony plains busied in turning stones under which they 

 found larvæ and pupæ. As the birds were very confiding, I quite 

 often succeeded in observing them while executing this interesting 

 work at a very short distance. The birds would with incredible 

 dexterity put their bills beneath flat stones and by a rapid toss 

 with the head turn them over and then quickly pick up what was 

 found beneath. I have seen the Turnstone in this manner turn 

 over flat stones of the size of the palm of my hand. I have also 

 seen young birds working in the same manner when running along 

 the shore. 



The pairing continued till the middle of June. The Turnstone 

 nests on almost the same localities as the Sanderling and the Knot, 

 but as a rule prefers to build its nest near an innundated tract, a 

 bog or a fresh-water-pond to which the young ones are often led. 

 Both male and female breed and the breeding spots are of equal 

 developement in the two sexes. 



When a hatch of young ones grows up the male will leave it 

 and join the party of other birds of its own kin. Sanderlings and 

 Knots; together with these birds they leave the country about the 

 middle of July. 



The parents are very watchful against danger in the breeding 

 time and when the young ones are small. One of them \vill keep 

 a look-out from the summit of a large stone or a rock, while the 

 other is breeding or guiding the young ones. The bird on guard will 

 discover an approaching enemy at an incredibly long distance and 

 rush towards him uttering furious cries. Especially the Skua (Le- 

 stris longicaudd) is a detested enemy of the Turnstone. Every day 

 I could observe the hunting Skuas pursued by Turnstones. When 

 one pursuer returned to its district another would appear and thus 

 every Skua was almost always accompanied by at least one Turn- 

 stone. Also towards the Polar Fox the Turnstones would betray great 

 fear and they would often join from afar and swoop down on the 

 hated enemy uttering their sharpest and most violent cries. 



Towards the end of July the young ones were able to fly but 



