TURNSTONE. 115 



usual breeding time, and as there is no reason to suppose 

 that it ever nests on our own coast, the few that are 

 occasionally seen here throughout the summer months 

 are no doubt either immature specimens, or such, as 

 from some cause or other, are not destined to " increase 

 and multiply." 



In June, 1846, Mr. Dowell shot a pair at Blakeney, 

 the only ones then remaining on that part of the 

 coast ; and on the 4th of June, 1851, a single specimen 

 was killed at Yarmouth. When staying at Hunstanton 

 in 1863, I first noticed this species on the 25th of May, 

 but never more than three or four together, and unlike 

 the sanderlings, which were tame and plentiful enough, 

 the turnstones were so shy that I failed to procure 

 any, though much wanting specimens in summer 

 plumage. By the end of May these small parties had 

 shifted their quarters though the sanderlings still re- 

 mained; but on the 10th and again on the 13th of 

 June, I observed a single turnstone feeding by itself at 

 low water, but so wary that it was only through a good 

 glass that I could watch its actions. The flat sandy 

 beach on this portion of the coast, must be particularly 

 attractive to this species, strewn as it is with shells 

 and sea-weeds, and abounding in the small crustaceans, 

 marine-insects, and worms that constitute the main por- 

 tion of their food. Their actions when feeding have been 

 so minutely and accurately described by Audubon, as 

 quoted by Macgillivray, and by Mr. Gould in his recent 

 work on the " Birds of Great Britain," that it is needless 

 to describe them here at any length, but the stone-turning 

 habit from whence its name is derived, is no mere fiction 

 of authors, but a fact to be realised at any time by an 

 examination of the ground where these birds have been 

 feeding. 



Never having handled a living or freshly killed speci- 

 men, I have had no opportunity of examining " the small 

 Q 2 



