OYSTER-CATCHERS 



107 



283.1. Arenaria morinella (Linn.). RUDDY TURNSTONE. 



Adults. Throat and belly white, chest crossed by a broad black band ; 

 back coarsely mottled with rufous and black; head variously streaked. 

 Young : similar to adult but duller, without rufous on back, and with the 

 chest band mottled dusky gray. Length : 9.00-9.90, wing 6.00, bill .80-.90, 

 tarsus 1. 



Distribution. Arctic America, breeding from the Mackenzie River east- 

 ward ; south in migration, chiefly coastwise, to Patagonia and the Falkland 

 Islands. Rare in the interior and on the Pacific coast. 



Nest . A slight depression in ground lined with grass and leaves. 

 Eggs : usually 4, grayish olive, spotted with dark brown. 



284. Arenaria melanocephala (Vig.). BLACK TURNSTONE. 



Adults in summer. Crown and upper back black, with greenish bronzy 

 gloss; rest of head, neck, throat, and chest 

 black, spotted on forehead and sides with 

 white ; a white spot in front of eye ; belly and 

 sides white. Adults in winter : similar, but with 

 head, neck, and chest unspotted, sooty black. 

 Young : head more grayish than in winter adults 

 and feathers of back edged with buffy. Length: 

 9, wing 5.80-6.10, bill .85-1.00, tarsus 1.00-1.10. 



Distribution. Pacific coast of North America 

 from Point Barrow to Santa Margarita Island, 

 Fig. 125. Winter Plumage. Lower California ; breeding from British Colum- 

 bia northward. 

 Nest and eggs as in morinella. 



FAMILY ELSSMATOFODID^E : OYSTER-CATCHERS. 



GENUS HJEMATOPUS. 



General Characters. Bill straight and flattened, chisel-shaped ; bright 

 red in adult, brownish in young ; feet and legs short and stout, red ; tail 

 square across end. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



1. Belly and base of tail white frazari, p. 107. 



1'. Belly and whole plumage blackish bachmaiii, p. 107. 



286.1. Hsematopus frazari Brewst. FRAZAR OYSTER-CATCHER. 



Adults. Head and neck greenish black ; back rich dark brown ; tail and 

 wing quills brownish black ; under parts, base of tail, and patch on wing, 

 white. Length: 17-21, wing 9.75-10.27, bill 2.99-3.05, tarsus 2.18-2.30. 



Distribution. Coasts of southern and Lower California, north to Ven- 

 tura County.- 



The white-bellied oyster-catchers reported from southern Califor- 

 nia are assumed to be frazari instead oipalliatus of the Atlantic coast. 

 287. Haematopus bachmani And. BLACK OYSTER-CATCHER. 



Adults. Head and neck dull bluish black ; rest of plumage brown- 

 ish black. Young: duller, 

 more brownish. Length : 

 17.00-17.50, wing 

 9.60-10.75, bill 

 2.50-2.95, tarsus 

 Fig. 126. 1.85-2.25. Fig. 127. 



