BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 361 



near the shores of Lake Erie he has seen it on the ploughed 

 lands turning over clods bigger than itself with such force as 

 to roll them a foot or more. This habit of turning objects is 

 not constant, however, with this bird, and is sometimes the 

 exception, as I have watched it when it seemed to be occupied 

 entirely in probing the sand, or searching for food, like a sand- 

 piper, along the strand. 



The bright variegated plumage of the Turnstone, with its 

 strong contrasts of black, white and chestnut, places it among 

 the most attractive birds of the sea-shore. The flight is rather 

 low and swift at times and then the white of the plumage is 

 very striking. In flight it often alternates scaling and flapping, 

 and sometimes gives a curious chattering or rattling note 

 as it passes. I have heard, too, the rapidly repeated Imk, kuk, 

 kuk, which a pair uttered as they flew by overhead, but as a 

 rule I have found them rather silent, and never have heard the 

 variety of calls which they undoubtedly give. 



The Turnstone can swim well at need, and like some other 

 species loves to bathe in the wash of the waves that roll up 

 on the sands, where it shakes ofT the water like a little dog. 

 It feeds on the spawn of the great crab, known locally as the 

 horsefoot or horseshoe; also on insects, worms and small crusta- 

 ceans. Audubon noticed that in northern Florida the Turnstone 

 fed on the oyster beds at low tide, picking at oysters that had 

 been killed by the heat of the sun; also breaking the shells of 

 small, thin-shelled bivalves. 



Oyster-catchers. 



The Oyster-catchers (family Hamatopodidoc) may be known 

 at once by their large size, striking appearance and the pe- 

 culiarly shaped bill, which is about twice as long as the head, 

 much compressed or flattened on the sides, cut off at the end 

 like the blade of a screwdriver, sharp edged and contracted at 

 the nostrils. It is a very efficient weapon for opening the shells 

 of bivalve mollusks or prying barnacles off the rocks. Each 

 toe has a narrow membrane on each side, and the middle and 

 outer ones are connected by a web toward the base. 



