52 BIRD GALLERY. 



Of the Arenariince, the Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) (522), one of 

 the commonest of our shore birds, is almost cosmopolitan in its range, 

 nesting in the Arctic regions of both Hemispheres and ranging south 

 almost as far as land extends. It gains its trivial name of "Turnstone" 

 from its habit of turning over stones to secure the small Crustacea hiding 

 beneath them. 



The Oyster-catchers or " Sea-Pies" (Htematopodina) (523-525), which 

 have the legs reticulated both in front and behind, derive their name 

 from their supposed habit of feeding on oysters. They live, however, 

 chiefly on mussels, whelks, and other shellfish, which are scooped from 

 their shells by the bird's powerful bill. The common Oyster-catcher 

 (Hamatopus ostralegus) (525) is a familiar British species, breeding on 

 the shores and sandy beds of rivers, and depositing its eggs in a slight 

 depression in the ground. As will be seen from the specimen of 

 H. unicolor (523) in the Case, some species are entirely black. 



Passing over the Peltohyatince, which includes only the Australian 

 Dotterel (Peltohyas australis) (533), we come to the True Plovers 

 (Charadriina) which include a number of well-known forms, many of 

 which are found on the List of British Birds. 



Commencing on the right-hand side of the fifth shelf we find the very 

 singular Wry-billed Plover (Anarhynchus front alls) (532) of New 

 Zealand, which has the bill twisted towards the right, an adaptation 

 which enables the bird to pick up insects hiding under stones. 



The Ringed (527) and Kentish (529) Plovers [PI. VIII.], Dotterel 

 (535), Golden Plover (546), and Lapwing (544), are all well-known 

 British birds and breed in our islands ; the Little Ringed (528) and Grey 

 Plovers (541) are regular visitors on migration, and the Killdeer (534), 

 Caspian (537), and American Golden (547) Plovers are occasional 

 stragglers to our shores. The Dotterel (Eudromias morinellus) (535), 

 one of the most beautiful of the Plovers, was at one time a toler- 

 ably common British bird, but its numbers have greatly decreased 

 of recent years. The Grey Plover (Squaturola helvetica] (541) and 

 the Golden Plover ( Charadrius pluvialis) (546) are conspicuous for the 

 marked changes of plumage during the summer and winter months. The 

 Lapwing, Peewit, or Green Plover (Vanellus vanellus] (544) is perhaps 

 the best known bird of the group on account of its eggs being so highly 

 prized as table-delicacies. The young of this species (545) exhibited in 

 the Case show the protective nature of the colour in the nestling down. 

 [Case 28.] A number of the Plovers have the sides of the face in front of the 

 eye ornamented by brightly coloured wattles, which hang down on each 

 side of the bill, and some have a strong spur situated at the bend of the 

 wing and used as a formidable weapon of offence. As an example of 

 those with facial wattles only, we may draw attention to the Crested- 



