CHAP. xn. DESCRIPTION OF TURNSTONE. 243 



an elongated cone, strong at the base, on the culmen 

 rather flattened, and with a curve inclining upwards 

 towards the tip. The habits of the bird are singular, 

 more particularly with respect to the method which 

 it adopts to procure food, which is, as its name 

 denotes, by turning over small stones in search of 

 the insects beneath them, on which it feeds. When 

 the object which it wishes to turn over is too large 

 for the bill to do so, the breast is applied ; and it 

 would seem that the birds are willing to assist each 

 other, just as masons or porters will do in turning 

 over a stone or a bale of goods. I may here take 

 the liberty of mentioning an incident concerning the 

 Turnstone which came under my own observation. 



" Passing along the sea-shore to the west of Banff, 

 I observed on the sands, at a considerable distance 

 before me, two birds beside a large-looking object. 

 Knowing by their appearance, that they did not be- 

 long to the species which are usually met with in this 

 quarter, I left the beach and proceeded along the 

 adjoining links, an eminence of shingle intervening, 

 until I concluded that I was almost opposite to the 

 spot where the objects of my search were employed. 

 Stooping down, and with my gun upon my back pre- 

 pared for action, I managed to crawl through the 

 bents and across the shingle for a considerable way. 

 At length I came in sight of the two little workers, 

 who were busily endeavouring to turn over a dead 

 fish which was fully six times their size. I immedi- 



