344 



CHARADRIIDJE 



AEENAEIA 



the face mottled black and white ; below, including the axillaries 

 and under wing- coverts white throughout, except for a black patch 

 on either side of the chest extending across the lower neck to form 

 a bar. 



Iris dark brown ; bill black ; feet orange ; claws black. 



Length (in flesh) 9-0, wing 6-0, tail 2-5, culmen 0-84, tarsus 1-0. 



In the breeding plumage the back, scapulars and coverts are 

 mottled with many chestnut, or partially chestnut feathers, the 

 crown of the head and hind neck are white, the former mottled, the 

 latter streaked with black ; the black on the breast is much more 

 extensive and deeper in tone ; the young bird closely resembles the 

 adult in winter plumage. 



FIG. 111. Head of Arena ria inter prcs. 

 b, in breeding plumage. 



x -i.}. a, In non-breeding plumaj 



Distribution. The Turnstone is perhaps the most thoroughly 

 cosmopolitan of all birds. It breeds on the shores of the Arctic 

 Ocean in Europe, Asia and America, and also on the Islands off the 

 coasts of Scandinavia and Denmark. During the northern winter it 

 is found on the coasts of all the continents and islands south of the 

 Tropic of Cancer. In South Africa the Turnstone occurs along 

 the sea coast in summer, and has been once obtained in April in 

 breeding-dress by Andersson. Layard believed that it bred on 

 Eobben Island, as he had seen what he believed to be young birds 

 running about, but further evidence is required before this state- 

 ment can be accepted. 



Hitherto no undoubted eggs have been taken south of the Baltic. 



The following are localities : German South-west Africa 

 Swakopmund, December, Walfisch Bay, April, in breeding dress 



