SPECIES 8, THING A /NTERPRES.* 



TURN-STONE. 

 [Plate L VII. Fig. 1.] 



Hebridal Sandpiper, Arct. Zool. p. 472, JVo. 382. Le Tourne- 

 pierre, BUFF, vn, 130. PI. EnL 130. BEWICK, n, p. 119, 121. 

 CATESBY, i, 72. PEALE'S Museum, No. 4044. 



THIS beautifully variegated species is common to both Eu- 

 rope and America; consequently extends its migrations far to 

 the north. It arrives from the south, on the shores of New 

 Jersey, in April; leaves them early in June; is seen on its re- 

 turn to the south in October; and continues to be occasibnally 

 seen until the commencement of the cold weather, when it dis- 

 appears for the season. It is rather a scarce species in this part 

 of the world, t and of a solitary disposition; seldom mingling 

 among the large flocks of other Sandpipers; but either coursing 

 the sands alone, or in company with two or three of its own 

 species. On the coast of Cape May and Egg-Harbour, this bird 

 is well known by the name of the Horse-foot Snipe, from its 

 living, during the months of May and June, almost wholly on 

 the eggs or spawn of the great King Crab, called here, by the 

 common people, the Horse-foot. This animal is the Monoculus 

 polyphcmus of entomologists. Its usual size is from twelve 

 to fifteen inches in breadth, by two feet in length; though 

 sometimes it is found much larger. The head, or forepart, is se- 

 micircular, and convex above, covered with a thin elastic shelly 

 case. The lower side is concave, where it is furnished with feet 

 and claws resembling those of A crab. The posterior extremity 



* This bird belongs to the Genus Strepsilas of Illiger; it is the only species 

 of the genus known; and is found in almost every quarter of the world. 



f This species is now found in great abundance on the coast of New Jer- 

 sey; and becomes excessively fat, in the month of May. 

 VOL. III. U 



