260 TURNSTONE. 



and a shrill peculiar whistle is uttered during it, or 

 when suddenly startled, which easily betrays its pre- 

 sence if associated with the sandpipers or dotterels, 

 We have frequently shot the young and adult states 

 of the bird on the shores of the Solway, and on the 

 Isle of May and other rocky islands in the Frith of 

 Forth. In August, the plumage of the old birds has 

 lost its brilliancy; but, towards spring, we have 

 met with them in great beauty and richness ; and 

 we believe they are frequently brought in this state 

 to the poulterers in London. No authentic account 

 of its breeding in our islands has been given, but 

 Dr. Fleming states, " From having seen this species 

 at all seasons in Zetland, I conclude that it breeds 

 there."* Mr. Hewitson discovered it breeding on 

 rocky islets on the coast of Norway ; the nest " was 

 placed against a ledge of the rock, and consisted of 

 nothing more than the dropping leaves of the juni- 

 per bush ; under a creeping branch of which, the 

 eggs, four in number, were snugly concealed, and 

 admirably sheltered from the many storms by which 

 these bleak and exposed rocks are visited, allowing 

 just sufficient room for the bird to cover them. "We 

 afterwards found several more nests with little dif- 

 ficulty, although requiring a very close search." 



The extra European range is very extensive; 

 breeding in Northern Europe, as we have seen from 

 the preceding extract from Hewitson's Beautiful 

 Oology, it incubates also within and around the 

 Arctic Circle ;f has been met with in the Straits of 



* Britibh Animals, p. 1 1 1. f Dr. Richardson. 



