THE OYSTERCATCHER. 377 



doubt be found along the whole coast of Pegu and Tenasserim. I killed 

 one specimen at Kyeikpadcin in September in a paddy-field. 



It is found almost throughout the entire globe. In the tropical portions 

 it is as a rule a winter visitor only ; but Mr. Parker (/. c.) observed them 

 in Ceylon in June. 



The Turnstone frequents the sea-coast and especially those shores which 

 are rocky. It feeds on small crustaceans and marine worms,, in searching 

 for which it is said to turn over stones and shells, hence its trivial name. 

 It breeds in northern climates, laying four eggs on the ground under 

 shelter of a stone or bush. 



Genus H^EMATOPUS, Linn. 



724. H^MATOPUS OSTRALEGUS. 

 THE OYSTERCATCHER. 



Haematopus ostralegus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 257 ; Jerd. B. 2nd. ii. p. 659 ; Hume, 

 S. F. i. p. 234 j Bl. B. Burm. p. 154 ; Dresser, Birds Eur. vii. p. 567 ; Hume, 

 S. F. viii. p. 112; Leyge, Birds Ceylon, p. 987. Haematopus osculans, 

 Swinh. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 405 ; Salvad. Ucc. Born. p. 321 ; David et Oust. Ois. 

 Chine, p. 432. 



Description. Male and female in summer. The whole head, neck all 

 round, upper breast, back, lesser and median wing-coverts, primary-coverts, 

 tertiaries and scapulars black; a small mark under the eye white; tail 

 white on the basal half, black on the terminal ; edge of the wing and 

 greater coverts white ; primaries black, about an inch of the shaft of each 

 feather near the tip white, the inner webs broadly edged with white at the 

 base, the outer webs except those of the first five with an oval white streak ; 

 the earlier secondaries black edged with white, the later ones entirely 

 white; tail-coverts white tipped with black; lower back, rump, lower 

 breast, abdomen, vent, under tail-coverts, sides of the body, axillaries and 

 under wing-coverts pure white. 



Male and female in winter. Similar to birds in summer, but with a large 

 crescentic white patch on the throat. 



Young birds are similar to the adults in general appearance, but have 

 the back and wings margined with brown, and they do not assume the white 

 throat-band during their first winter. 



Bill orange-red at the base, becoming yellow towards the tip ; iris rich 



