guar. xu1.] Description of the Turn-stone. 221 
it does not appear that any ornithological writer, excepting 
Audubon, had particularly described it, although Edward 
had never read Audubon’s work. The Rev. Mr. Smith ob- 
served: “It is consistent with my knowledge that Mr. Ed- 
ward has never read the account given by Audubon of the 
habits of the turn-stone. I mention this as a proof, among 
others, of the accuracy and minuteness with which he makes 
his observations. He is the only European, so far as I have 
the means of ascertaining, who has described the efforts 
which are put forth by the bird in question in cases of dif- 
ficulty, not only with its bill, but with its breast also.” The 
following is Edward’s description of the bird: 
“The turn-stone is a very interesting bird, from its pecul- 
iar form and singular habits. It is a strong, thick bird, with 
rather short, thick legs ; long expanded toes; and full, broad 
breast. Its bill is in the form of an elongated cone, strong 
at the base, on the culmen rather flattened, and with a curve 
inclining upward toward the tip. The habits of the bird 
are singular, more particularly with respect to the method 
which it adopts to procure food—which is, as its name de- 
notes, by turning over small stones in search of the insects 
beneath them, on which it feeds. When the object which 
it wishes to turn over is too large for the bill to do so, the 
breast is applied; and it would seem that the birds are will- 
ing to assist each other, just as masons or porters will do in 
turning over a stone or a bale of goods. I may here take 
the liberty of mentioning an incident concerning the turn- 
stone which came under my own observation. 
“Passing along the sea-shore to the west of Banff, I ob- 
served on the sands, at a considerable distance before me, 
two birds beside a large-looking object. Knowing by their 
appearance that they did not belong to the species which 
are usually met with in this quarter, I left the beach and 
proceeded along the adjoining links, an eminence of shingle 
intervening, until I concluded that I was almost opposite to 
the spot where the objects of my search were employed. 
