Genus STREPSILAS or TURNSTONES. 



Type STREPSILAS INTERPRES. 



Strepsilas of Illiger (i8ii). — The birds comprising the 

 present genus are characterised by having the toes cleft to the 

 base, and the nasal orifice reaching beyond the basal fourth of 

 the bill. The wings are long and pointed, the first primary the 

 longest ; tail rather short and nearly even, composed of twelve 

 feathers. The tarsus is scutellated in front, reticulated behind ; 

 the tibia just above the tarsal joint devoid of feathers. The bill 

 is short, thick at the base, tapering to the point, somewhat 

 conical ; nostrils basal, lateral, partially shielded by a membrane. 

 Toes three in front, one behind short and elevated. 



This genus is composed of three species, breeding in the 

 northern Nearctic, and temperate and northern Patearctic 

 regions ; cosmopolitan in winter. One species is a common 

 visitor to the British Islands on passage, rarer during winter. 



The Turnstones are dwellers on the sea coast, rocky ones by 

 preference. They are birds of powerful and sustained flight, 

 performing extended migrations ; and walk and run with equal 

 facility. Their notes are clear and shrill, some not unmusical. 

 They subsist principally on small crustaceans, sand-worms, the 

 animals in small shells, etc. They make scanty nests on the 

 ground, and the four pyriform eggs are spotted. They are 

 monogamous, and more or less gregarious and social, even 

 during the breeding season. 



