14 BRITISH BIRDS. 



single note is added, making a treble note, kitter-keet. In spring, during 

 the pairing-season, it is said that these notes are often so rapidly repeated 

 that they form a trill. 



The spring migration of the Turnstone commences in our islands 

 late in April, and but few remain until the end of May ; its breeding- 

 season begins in June, a little later in the high north than in the south. 

 This bird was first observed in the winter- quarters of the ' Alert ' 

 in Grinnell Land, in lat. 82^, on the 5th of June, and by the 12th of 

 August the young broods were able to fly. It often selects a nesting-site 

 on a small island or well-secluded part of the rocky coast, where tufts of 

 grass and small bushes are scattered about; and several pairs of birds 

 often make their nests near each other. The nest is very slight, composed 

 of a few bits of dry herbage or withered leaves, scratched into a little 

 hollow, which is usually selected under the shelter of a tuft of herbage, or 

 under a broad-leaved plant, or behind a bush. The eggs are four in 

 number, differing considerably from those of the typical Plovers, and ap- 

 proaching much more closely those of the Sandpipers. They vary from 

 pale olive-green of different shades to pale buff in ground-colour, dashed, 

 clouded, spotted, and blotched with olive-brown and very dark brown, and 

 with underlying markings of purplish grey. Some specimens are boldly 

 streaked with dark brown, especially on the larger end, others have most 

 of the larger markings running in an oblique direction round the surface. 

 Some are much more richly marked than others ; occasionally the mark- 

 ings are blurred and indistinct, whilst on others they are bold and well 

 defined. They vary in length from 1'7 to T52 inch, and in breadth from 

 1'2 to I'l inch. The eggs of the Turnstone cannot be confused with 

 those of any British Plover, nor easily with those of any of the Sandpipers. 

 Perhaps they most resemble certain varieties of the Common Snipe, 

 though they are seen to be very different when compared. Only one brood 

 is reared in the year ; and both male and female appear to take turns in 

 the work of incubation. 



When its breeding-grounds are invaded, the Turnstone becomes very 

 anxious, settling on the masses of rocks and running about in a very 

 restless manner, every now and then uttering a shrill tremulous note. 

 The bird does not, however, appear to try and lure any one from its nest 

 by feigning lameness. As soon as the young are hatched the parents lead 

 them to the shore, where they are soon able to forage for themselves. As 

 soon as they are fledged, or shortly after, they retire southwards to their 

 winter- quarters, travelling thousands of miles, sometimes across country, 

 but often down the coast-Hue or across the intervening seas. During the 

 whole winter they keep to the shore, either in flocks or in scattered pairs. 

 A few young birds make their appearance on our own coasts by the end of 

 July, but the main flocks do not arrive until August. The low-lying 



