62 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE CHARLESTON MUSEUM. 



than the adults in nuptial plumage. By the middle of July 

 the adults that have bred in the Arctic regions make their appear- 

 ance. They are generally, if not always, in very worn plumage 

 and plainly show that they have bred, by bare spaces on the low- 

 er breast. The Turnstone migrates later in the spring than any 

 of the waders, and invariably follows the coast line. It does 

 not migrate in a northwesterly direction like the Red- 

 breasted Snipe, Black-bellied Plover, and Greater Yellow-legs. 

 This species is very tame in winter, and comes near the ocean 

 beaches. On Capers' Island it frequents live oak trees which 

 are covered with small mussels, upon which it eagerly feeds. 

 If some of the mussels happen to be on an inclined limb the birds 

 walk, instead of flying, to reach them. I have seen as many as 

 four of these birds, one behind the other, on a small limb out in 

 the surf. 



FAMILY HjEMATOPODIDjE: OYSTER-CATCHERS. 



124. Haematopus palliatus Temm. Oyster-catcher. 



Twenty years ago this permanent resident used to breed on 

 the eastern end of Sullivan's Island, and also across the inlet 

 on Long Island, but at the present time it has abandoned these 

 places on account of the building of cottages upon the breeding 

 grounds. A few pairs breed on Dewees Island, but the greater 

 number breed on Capers' and Bull's Islands. 



The habits of the birds have changed in regard to their breeding, 

 as ten or twenty years ago full complements of eggs could not 

 be obtained before May 13-15; whereas in later years the birds 

 invariably breed in April, as the following record shows: May 

 15, 1895, three eggs, Long Island; May 13, 1896, three eggs, 

 Long Island; May 15, 1897, three eggs, Long Island; April 20, 

 1903, two eggs (incomplete); April 12, 1903, three eggs, Bull's 

 Island; April 30, 1904, three eggs, Long Island. The eggs, which 

 invariably number three, are laid on the sand or among shells, in 

 a hole scooped out near high water mark, and are cream color, 

 spotted and blotched with dark brown, and measure 2.25X1-55. 



Only one brood is raised unless the eggs have been taken, when 

 the birds will lay again and again in order to raise their young. 

 Scarcely more than four or five pairs breed together, and some- 

 times only one pair inhabits an island during the breeding season. 

 In the winter, however, the Oyster-catcher is very gregarious 



