I he + |oWa -i- 0rqitholoqist. 



Vcl. IV. JULY, 1898. No. III. 



First Record of the Turnstone. 



(Arenaria interpres (Linn.) 



Ill Iowa. (May 2h 1892.) 



We had spent a pleasant day's outing- among- the beautful lakes 

 which abound along- the Mississippi, in Illinois, opposite Burling-- 

 ton. Had admired the fields and forests now decked in virg-in 

 g-reen and listened all day long- to the chorus of birds, which were 

 ever pushing- northward, toward their favorite summer homes. 



Evening- found us g-liding- homeward, Just as we passed the 

 Burling-ton bridg-e which spans the g-reat "Father of Waters" Dr. 

 Poppe who was in the boat preceeding- ours called my attention to 

 a pair of birds feeding- on the railroad track, which was now partly 

 submerg-ed on account of the prevailing- hig-h stag-e of water. In my 

 eag"erness to approach them I frig-htened them away and owing- to 

 the unsteady motion of the boat I missed both birds. Not recog-- 

 nizing- the birds, my eyes naturally followed the pair with re- 

 gret. We saw them cross the river, circle over the city of Burling-- 

 ton, swing- about, then wheel ag-ain in Jacksnipe fashion, and linal- 

 1}' return in a bee line, to the place from which they had been 

 frig-htened. This time I took the precaution to land and approach 

 them more carefully which resulted in the capture of the only two 

 Turnstones which have ever come under my obversations in the 

 Mississippi Valley. 



These birds were killed in Illinois, but will have to be added 

 to the list of Iowa birds, as we also observed them in Iowa. 

 — Paul Bartsch. IP'ashingto/i. D. C. 



