266 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



TURSNTONE, 



A. O. U. No. 383 (Arenaria interpres;. 



This is the Old World Turnstone. It is occasionally found in Green- 

 land and in Alaska. It is slightly larger than our common bird and the 

 back is chiefly blackish with mottling of rusty; otherwise it does not 

 differ from our bird. 



RUDDY TURNSTONE. 



A. O. U. No- 383.1. (Arenaria morinella) . 



In full spring plumage, the Ruddy Turnstone is a beautiful bird, much 

 prettier than the European. They vary in plumage from the nearly 

 uniform rich reddish brown of old males down to the mixed black and 

 brownish of the young birds and winter adults. 



Turnstones are very widely distributed, being found in all four 

 quarters of the globe. They breed only in the Arctic regions and 

 migrate southward in America, to Patagonia. 



They do not often go in large flocks, and rarely are more than twenty 

 seen together, and much more frequently they are found in bands of 

 three or four, individuals. They seem to like the company of other 

 Sandpipers as well as those of their own species and single birds are 

 often found in flocks of other Plover or Sandpipers. 



Turnstones are found, apparently with little preference, on sandy, 

 pebbly or rocky shores. They are extremely active birds and can run 

 with great speed; I have seen them on the beach, perhaps two hundred 

 yards in advance, and made a detour behind the sand bluffs and dunes 

 in order to come abreast of him, only to find that he was just as far 

 ahead. While they are sociable with other birds, they are timid in the 

 presence of man and rarely allow anyone to oppenly approach within 

 gunshot. Their flight is very rapid and is usually performed close to 

 the land or water, and they often progress by sailing. Like all the 

 Plover they are easily called to decoys and many of them are killed by 

 gunners, to whom they are known as "Calico Birds" owing to their 

 variegated plumage. 



They are very interesting birds to watch, especially when feeding, 



