GRALLATORES. 157 



univalves, sandhoppers, and marine insects, mingled 

 with minute particles of gravel. 



TURNSTONE, Strepsilas interpres. It is very rare 

 to find this species so far inland, so thoroughly 

 marine is it in its habits, and I am not aware, more- 

 over, that it is considered common on any part of 

 our coast. It retires to the far North for the 

 breeding season, and appears to be most plentiful 

 here in the autumn and early spring.* Although its 

 habits confine it chiefly to the sea-shore, individuals 

 nevertheless occasionally mingle with a flock of 

 Ring Plovers or Dunlin, and thus stray some little 

 distance inland in company with these birds. 



This usually happens about the time that the 

 various flocks of waders are migrating in spring and 

 autumn. 



On the 24th August, 1865, I most unexpectedly 

 met with a Turnstone so far inland as the Reservoir 

 at Kingsbury, which must be thirty miles from the 

 nearest sea-point. I was walking round this sheet 

 of water with my gun, and had just fired both barrels 

 at a couple of Ring Plovers, killing one and missing 

 the other ; and while standing perfectly still, endea- 

 vouring to mark down the fugitive, a bird came 

 flying up the water, uttering a loud note, which at 



* The latest stay that I have remarked for this species is 

 the 18th May, on which date I once shot two out of a flock 

 on the Northumbrian coast. 



