BIRDS WHICH FEED ON INSECTS 



67 



fish -eating forms, some species making it their usual hunting- 

 ground, while others make occasional visits. Among the former 

 may be mentioned two interesting birds of the Plover Family 

 the Turnstone and the Oyster-Catcher. Everyone who has hunted 

 for little beasts along the shore, and most of us as children have 



Fig. 358. Curlew (Ntimenins arquatus) 



done so, knows that sand-hoppers, small crabs, and a host of 

 other diminutive creatures harbour under stones. The Common 

 Turnstone (Strepsilas interpret) is well aware of the fact, and 

 uses his strong beak for turning over stones, a method of pot- 

 hunting which brings its own reward. The black-and-white 

 Oyster-Catcher (Hcematopus ostralegus] possesses in his powerful 

 laterally -compressed beak a means of opening various bivalve 



