178 H^MATOPODIDiE : OYSTER-CATCHER. 



given by Brewer in Peabody's Report of the Orni- 

 thology of Massachusetts, 1839, P- 3S8, by Emmons 

 in Hitchcock's Report, 1835, p. 5 — both perhaps a 

 little dubious, and by Linsley in the Amer. Jour. 

 Sci., xliv, 1843, p. 265, who says that the Oyster- 

 catcher was then rare in Connecticut, though it 

 had not been uncommon in autumn a few years pre- 

 viously. Coming to later notices, we find Coues re- 

 marking that the bird is of very unusual occurrence 

 along our coast (Pr. Essex Inst., v, 1868, p. 292). Mr. 

 Maynard notes it as accidental, but one or two instances 

 of its capture being on record (Nat. Guide, 1870, p. 139) ; 

 while Mr. Allen calls it " accidental in summer" in Mas- 

 sachusetts (Bull. Essex Inst., x, 1878, p. 23). Dr. Brewer's 

 general list of New England birds includes the species 

 with the asterisk, and notes Massachusetts and Maine 

 as localities — the latter doubtless on the excellent 

 authority of Mr. Boardman of Calais (Pr. Bost. Soc, 

 xvii, 1875, P- 445)- 



TURNSTONE OR CALICO-BIRD. 



Strepsilas interpres {L.) III. 



Chars. Feet, four-toed, red. Bill, dark -colored, hard, acute, in this 

 respect differing from that of most wading birds — the modifica- 

 tion of the organ, like that which the singular instrument of 

 the Oy.ster-catcher has undergone, being in adaptation to the par- 

 ticular habits of the bird. The Oyster-catcher uses its singular 

 tool as a burglar does a "jimmy," to pry open the shells of 

 bivalve molluscs. As indicated by the name " Turnstone," the 

 beak of the latter bird is used to dislodge pebbles along the sea- 

 shore, to get at the odd little marine creatures that lurk beneath 

 them. In other respects, the general habits of the Turnstone 



