OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 177 



Habits. — Although occasionally met with inland on migration the Turn- 

 stone is eminently a coast bird, and at all times of the year lives either on the 

 shore or in the immediate vicinity of the sea. It is best known on passage in our 

 Islands, although a few odd birds occasionally remain with us during the winter, 

 and it would appear that immature non-breeding individuals occasionally stay 

 behind in the winter quarters during summer, or at a considerable distance south 

 of the nesting grounds, although we are convinced that in many cases this is by 

 no means the correct explanation of the phenomenon. Young Turnstones begin 

 to make their appearance on our coasts at the end of July, and the migration 

 continues through August and September, by which latter date most of the birds 

 have passed south. They arrive on their northern passage in our Islands at the 

 end of April, and the spring flight lasts about a month ; even in the high north 

 they appear early in June. The Turnstone prefers a rocky or shingly beach to a 

 mud one, and during autumn and winter usually lives in flocks of varying size. 

 Many odd birds, however, may be met with at these seasons, sometimes consorting 

 with other Waders. Most of its time is spent upon the beach in restless quest of 

 food. It is ever running about amongst the pebbles and drifted rubbish on the 

 shore. It indulges in the peculiar habit of turning over shells, pebbles, or other 

 small objects on the beach — hence its trivial name — in search of the small marine 

 animals that often lurk under them ; and it is said occasionally to use its breast 

 as well as its singularly shaped beak for the purpose. It not only runs about the 

 dry shore, but frequently wades, and Hume states that he has seen it swimming 

 on the sea just outside the breakers, rising from time to time and flying a little 

 way, then settling on the water again. Its flight is not particularly rapid, and as 

 it generally flies straight and not very far from the ground it is a somewhat easy 

 bird to shoot. It is also fond of sitting on an elevated spot, and Swinhoe states 

 that in China he has seen numbers of this bird perched on stakes and on the ropes 

 suspended between them. The note of the Turnstone is a shrill whistle, resem- 

 bling the syllable heet ; the bird also utters a double note, which some authorities 

 syllable as hitter, and sometimes the two are uttered in succession, making a 

 treble note. During the love season these notes are uttered so quickly by the 

 male as to form a somewhat musical trill. The food of this species consists of 

 sand-worms, mollusks, crustaceans, and other small marine animals. An example 

 I dissected during the autumn of 1893 had its stomach crammed with dozens of 

 minute shells. It is said that this bird is easily tamed, and according to 

 Dr. Finch is kept in confinement on Pleasant Island (one of the Gilbert group) 

 for fighting purposes. 



Nidification. — The Turnstone breeds in June ; and although not gre- 

 garious during the nesting season, several pairs not unfrequently hatch their eggs 

 in the same immediate neighbourhood. Its breeding grounds are close to the sea, 

 often on low rocky islands. The nest is usually placed amongst the scanty 

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