THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 507 



of the year, on the other hand, are very common from the end of 

 July, roving about in flocks on the shore of Sandy Island; they are 

 not, however, in the habit of running about on the wet sand at the 

 water's edge, like the young Dunlins, but frequent the dry portions 

 of the shore above high- water mark. 



Up to the present time, only a few isolated nests of this species have 

 been discovered. Its principal breeding grounds have not yet been 

 reached, though they are doubtless situated in the same Polar 

 area which forms the chief nesting quarters of T. ishmdicacanutus 

 and T. subarquata for, according to Dr. Bunge's observations in 

 New Siberia, this bird continued its spring migration northward 

 from these islands in company with the species named above, and 

 also reappeared on its return passage from the end of July to the 

 middle of September. 



M'Farlane, a collector of the Smithsonian Institution at Wash- 

 ington, found a nest with four eggs on the Arctic coast of North 

 America, in 68 N. latitude. Captain Feilden found another with 

 two eggs in Grinnell Land, lat. 82 33' N. During the German 

 expedition, Dr. Pansch collected on Sabine Island, on the east 

 coast of Greenland in 74| N. lat., ten eggs which could only have 

 belonged to this species, it being the only member of the genus 

 Tringa met with in this district. 



This is all that can be stated with certainty in regard to the 

 nests and eggs of this species, numberless flocks of which are met 

 with during its autumn migration in almost all the countries of the 

 northern hemisphere. 



298. Turnstone [STEINWALZER]. 

 TRINGA INTERPRES. 1 



Heligolandish : Seemannche = The Little Merman. 



Strepsilas interpres. Naumann, vii. 303. 



Turnstone. Dresser, viii. 555. 



Tournepierre a collier. Temminck, Manuel, ii. 553, iv. 362. 



The fact of this species being so well known in Heligoland is 

 doubtless largely due to the rich coloration and variegated mark- 

 ings of its plumage, for it is by no means strongly represented as 

 regards numbers. Spring birds in perfect plumage occur only 

 in very isolated instances on the dune; but young birds of the 

 year are fairly frequent during August and September. Now and 

 again an old bird in dusky winter plumage may be seen in the 

 course of the winter months. 



1 Strepsilas interpres (Linn.). 



