The Plover-like Birds 



351 



/. LARO-LIMICOLM 

 THE PLOVERS, SNIPES, AND IMMEDIATE ALLIES 



(Suborder Limicolce) 



This is a group of large size and very wide distribution, its members, as 

 already suggested, being disposed among six families. They agree among 

 themselves in having the slit (schizognathous) form of the palate, and, with the 

 exception of the Thick-knees and certain Coursers (Pluvianus), with slit-like 

 (schizorhinal) nostrils, while the oil-gland is tufted and the aftershaft present 

 in the contour feathers. Another character of agreement is found in the spinal 

 feather tract, this being forked on the body, while in all the toes are only partially 

 or not at all webbed. The nests are placed on the ground, and the young are 

 able to run about a few hours after birth, being then covered with a close and 

 fluffy down. The first family to be considered includes the typical representa- 

 tives, viz. : 



THE PLOVERS, SNIPES, CURLEWS, ETC. 



(Family Charadriidce) 



Turnstones. We may appropriately begin the consideration of this, the 

 largest of the six families, with the interesting little Turnstones (Arenaria), 

 so called from their constant habit of turning over shells and pebbles in search 

 of their food of insects and crustaceans. Of the two species the Common Turn- 

 stone (^4. interpres] is practically cosmopolitan^ mainly along seacoasts, breed- 

 ing in the Arctic regions, and in America migrating southward as far as the 

 Straits of Magellan. It is about 

 nine and one half inches long, with 

 the upper parts including the wings 

 mainly dusky, variegated more or 

 less with rufous and white, the head 

 being mostly white, and the chest a 

 uniform deep black, while the rump, 

 throat, and abdomen are pure white, 

 and the legs and feet are orange ; in 

 winter the plumage is somewhat 

 darker. It is observed singly or in 



Small parties, Sticking closely to the FlG Il6 ._ Common Turnstone, Arenaria inter pres. 



outer, especially rocky, beaches, and 



gleaning its food among stranded seaweed, and several have been observed to 

 assist in overturning a stone too large for the effort of a single bird. Palmer 

 mentions them as being exceedingly abundant in fall on the Pribilof Islands, 

 where they become excessively fat. Their departure in flocks of a hundred 



