THE PIED OYSTER-CATCHEK 



91 



The Turnstone. 



Arenaria interpres. 



Only seen with us in its winter plumage. Above, blackish-brown; 

 throat and abdomen white; breast brownish-black; tail white, with a 

 broad blackish band near the tip. In summer in Europe and Asia, the 

 head and breast are white mottled with black. Bill black, legs red, eye 

 dark brown; wing 6 inches, tarsus 1. 



The Turnstones breed in high northern latitudes, migrating 

 southwards in the early autumn. One contingent travelling down 

 through the jMalay Archipelago and New Guinea comes to us in 

 Australia and Tasmania for the summer. Some reach New 

 Zealand in November, and a few appear in Fiji. 





M^ 



Meyer. 

 Turnstone (breeding plumage) : Arenaria interpres. 



Sub-family ncematopodinm. 

 Genus Hcematopus. 

 Bill longer than the head, strong, compressed, 

 wanting. Almost cosmopolitan. 



Hind toe 



The White-breasted or Pied Oyster-catcher. 



Hcematopus longirostris. 



Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Chatham Islands, New Guinea, 

 and Moluccas. 



Back and head glossy black, edge of wing black, lower back and tail- 

 coverts white, latter broadly tipped with black; inner secondaries edged 

 with white; under surface white. Total length 17 inches, culmen 3.4. 

 wing 10.1, tail i, tarsus 1.95. 



