TURNSTONE. 51 



Anson's voyage round the world,' a remnant of whose famous 

 ship the 'Centurion,' it occurs to me as I write, to mention, 

 I have hung against my wall among other relics, as being 

 also one of the first of H.M.S. that my father went to sea 

 in; -'ignoscas recordationis benevolens lector.' 



In Yorkshire I have seen them on Filey Brigg, that is, 

 Bridge, the base of an ancient cliff, formerly extant, but long 

 since washed into the sea, and which, at low water, is dry 

 for a considerable distance. The species has also been known 

 at the mouth of the Tees, and on other parts of the coast, 

 preferring rocky places. Littoral birds, they frequent the sea- 

 shore, but are at times met with on the banks of the larger 

 rivers and lakes. 



The Rev. 11. P. Alington has met with it, though but rarely, 

 on the Lincolnshire side of the Humber. In Norfolk it is 

 found, but not in large numbers, arriving in autumn, and 

 retiring again in spring, in the former in August, and in the 

 latter it has b.een observed so late as the 26th. of May. In 

 Cornwall, near Falmouth, it is rare. It occurs also in Wales. 



This is another of our winter visitants, arriving the end of 

 August, and departing in March, April, or May; in the one 

 case in anticipation of the production of a family, and in the 

 other after that event. The young, when full grown, quit, in 

 most localities, the place of their birth, and, in company with 

 their parents, move southwards along the coast. These, for the 

 most part, compose the small flocks of Turnstones that are 

 seen. 



They are birds of sociable habits, both among themselves, 

 and towards different kinds, but are shy, otherwise, of approach. 

 They may, however, easily be tamed, and kept in confinement: 

 one has been known to eat out of the hand. They appear 

 to be fond of bathing. The parents exhibit great attachment 

 to their young, but, as is the case with another species, 

 their too great fondness is sometimes the ruin of their offspring, 

 their cries of distress at the approach of an intruder directing 

 attention to them. The like cause produces great pugnacit} r 

 in them towards other larger sea-fowl; and especially^ towards 

 the predatory Gulls, who have a natural inclination for the 

 eggs of other kinds. 



A curious circumstance is mentioned in the 'Zoologist,' 

 page 2652, by Mr. James C. Garth, of one of these birds 

 having been shot out of a flock of pigeons, and also quite 

 inland, namely, near Knaresborough, in the West-Hiding, in 



