CHAPTER XII 



SHORE-BIRD SHOOTING {CONTINUED) 



THE TURNSTONES AND SURF BIRDS 



(Aphrissidm) 



This is another small family of but four species, 

 all of which occur in North America, and three 

 are confined to the New World. They are all 

 small birds, frequenting almost exclusively the 

 ocean beaches or the rocks lining the coast, and 

 have earned the name of turnstone by their habit 

 of turning over pebbles in search of the insects 

 beneath. All breed in the far North, wandering 

 over most of the earth's surface in autumn and 

 winter. The ruddy turnstone is the only species 

 found in eastern North America, and in this the 

 striking plumage of the male, his back of black 

 and rufous, black breast, white abdomen, black 

 bill, and red legs will arouse the admiration of 

 any one in whom custom has not dulled the eye 

 for beauty. 



In many structural peculiarities these birds re- 

 semble the plovers, but they may be recognized 

 by their rather pointed bills, their legs with trans- 

 verse scales in front, the presence of a hind toe, 



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