234 ZOOLOGY. 



coverts, back and rump, white. Quills brownish black, with their shafts white ; tail white at base, with its terminal half 

 brownish black, and tipped with white. Greater wing coverts widely tipped with white, forming a conspicuous oblique bar 

 across the wing ; bill black ; legs orange. In winter the black of the upper parts is more apparent, and the rufous is of less 

 extent and of lighter shade. 



Total length, about 9 inches ; extent, 18.75 ; wing, 6 ; tail, 2J inches. Iris brown ; bill and feet black. 



Hab. — Shores of the Atlantic and Pacific, throughout North America. One of the most widely diffused of birds, being 

 found in nearly all parts of the world. 



The turnstone passes through along the coast of the Territory on its northern migration in 

 May, clad in its beautiful summer dress; and in September returns southward in its plain 

 chocolate plumage. Some, perhaps, remain during winter about the shores of Puget Sound. — C. 



STREPSILAS MEL ANOCEPH ALUS, Vigors. 



Blaelc Tiirnstoue. 



Slrepsilas meJanocephalus, Vigoks, ZooI. Juur. IV, Jan. 1829, 356. — In. Zool. Blossom, 1839, 29. — Gambel, J. A. N. 

 Sc. 2d series, Aug. 1849, 220.— Baied & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, 702 



Sp. Cn. — About the size of and having the same general form as the preceding, but differing in color. Head, breast, and 

 upper parts of the body fuliginous brown, lighter on the breast, and with every feather having a darker centre ; back and 

 wing coverts darker, frequently nearly black and with a greenish lustre ; lower part of back, rump, and upper tail coverts 

 white, with a large spot of black on the upper coverts. Abdomen, under tail and under wing coverts white ; tips of greater 

 wing coverts white, forming a band across the wing ; shorter tertiaries edged externally white. Bill black ; feet dark orange- 

 Quills brownish black, with their shafts white ; tail at base white, with its terminal half black, narrowly tipped with white. 



Total length, about 9 inchts ; wing, fi ; tail, 1^ inches ; extent, 18.75. 



Bab. — Western North America. 



Birds belonging to one or the other of these species are very common in autumn and spring 

 on the sand spits and rocky points of Puget Sound and the Straits of Fuca. They arrive from 

 the north at the same time as the 'Lobipes hyperloreus, about August 20. The bulk of the 

 migration passes to the south before cold weather comes on, although a few remain throughout 

 the winter. I have shot them along the shores of the Straits of Fuca during the months of 

 January, February, and March. 



They are very abundant in October, on a small rock island nearly opposite Seattle, Puget 

 Sound, ■vmere they congregate in immense numbers. I found them usually fat, and comparing 

 favorably with the tattlers and sandpipers as articles of food. They are not a shy bird, and when 

 plentiful are easily obtained, frequently several individuals being killed at one discharge. 

 During the cold months they keep in small companies, feeding busily, like the sandpipers, at 

 the edge of the water, and when disturbed flying to a short distance from the intruder, when 

 again alighting, they eagerly recommence a busy search for their fiivorite food. — S. 



Family EECURVIROSTRID AE — The Avosets. 

 RBCURVIROSTRA AMERICANA, Gm. 



American Avoset. 



RecurviTOStra americam, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 693.— Wils. Am. Cm. VII, 1813, 126.— Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 



375.— NcTT. Man. H, 78.— Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 168 ; pi. 318.— Ib. Syn 252.— Is. 



Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 247 ; pi. 353.— Baied & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, 703. 

 RecuTviTosira ocadentttlis, Vigors, Zool. Jour. IV, 1829, 356.— Ib. Zool. Blossom, 1839, 28 ; pi. xii. — Wagier, Isis, 



1831,520.— Baird, Zool. Stansbury, Salt Lake, 1852.— Cassln, Illust. I, viii, 1855,232, 



pi. xl. 



