30" 



patch on bind neck, black. Remainder .if upper parts, mottled with bln.-k, chestnut-red, and white. Sw.mdiirii".. wliitc, 

 with nn elongated <p.>t ofbrown on terminal portion. Primaries, hr.iwn, with bu-e <if all mid tips of inner, wliitc. 



Youny. Similar to the ndult l>ut tlic black markings are not ns distinct, nor is then- i.uieh ml above. Bill, black, 

 iris, brown, and feet, red, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the peculiar black markings on the head and breast. Distributed in summer, throughout Ai -tic 

 America; wintering from t'i8 Carolines, .southward. 



DI.MKNS10NS. 



Average measurements of s,. n 'mens from Kiisteni America. length, 9'25; stretch, 18-00; wing, 5-40; tnil.STui; bill, 

 95; tarsus, |-(>J. Longest specimen, )-50; greatest extent ol wing, l'J'50; longest wing, 6'05: tail, 2 75; liill, I -00: tarsus, 

 1-15. S.i.irta-it sp;uim;n, 9'0'J; smallest extent of wing, 18-50; shortest wing, o 7">, fiil, 2-50; bill, <>!; tarsus, -!>0. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGOS. 



Eyys, placed on t!ie ground in a depression of the soil, on a little gni- I are from two to four in mimlirr. rather 

 pyriform in shape, greenis'i-jish in color, spotted anil blotched irregularly and thickly with yellowWi-brown, anJ scatter- 

 ingly with dots of umber. Dimensions from 1-17x1 -56 to 1'20 x 1 65. 



HABITS. 



The Turnstones are easily recognized by their conspicuous colors, especially by the 

 white rump with its black spot; in fact, they appear so completely mottled with black, 

 white, and red, that in some sections, they are called Calico Birds. They arrive from the 

 North early in August and while in Massachusetts, during autumn, spend the greater por- 

 tion of their time on rocks which have been left exposed by the tide, searching for small 

 marine animals. They will, however, occasionally alight on the marshes, in order to catch 

 grasshoppers, on which they sometimes feed. In the North, where they are hunted con- 

 tinually, like all shore birds, they become very shy but in the South, where larger gam*' is 

 abundant, they are seldom disturbed and, consequently, are quite unsuspicious, being so 

 tame, in fact, that I have frequently walked within a few yards of them without causing 

 them to take wing. In this section, they resort to the pebbly sea beaches, along which 

 they run nimbly, occasionally pausing to turn over the smaller stones or shells, that they 

 may find the insects which lurk beneath them, and it is this habit which has given them 

 the name of Turnstone. 



These birds do not appear to be very common anywhere and in all my experience on 

 the coast between the two great gulfs, I do not remember having seen over twenty together 

 at one time, and this number is rare; indeed, I should consider a flock consisting of ten or a 

 dozen specimens, quite large for this species. I saw a lew scattering Turnstonrs flying 

 about the oyster bars at Smithville, North Carolina, during the last week in November, 

 and from this point to Key West, they are found during winter but are never very abun- 

 dant in rhe South. They return North in May but when migrating to their In-ceding 

 grounds, they pass quite rapidly. The note of the Turnstone, consists of an abrupt, clear 

 whistle, usually given just as the birds rise or is occasionally uttered as they fly. 



FAMILY III. RECURVIROSTRIDyE. THE STILTS. 



Bill, much longer than the head, more or less curved upward, flaW-Md ami l/urd through- 

 out. Hind toe, absent or very small. Keel, about equal in heiyht tu tin' width vf the ster- 

 num. Marginal indentations, four. Legs, exceedingly long. 



