TURNSTONE. 481 
spawn, of the great king crab, called here by the common people the 
horse-foot. This animal is the Monoculus polyphemus of entomologists. 
Its usual size is from twelve to fifteen inches in breadth, by two fect 
in length; though sometimes it is found much larger. The head, or 
forepart, is semicircular, and convex above, covered with a thin, elastic, 
shelly case. The lower side is concave, where it is furnished with 
feet and claws resembling those of a crab. The posterior extremity 
consists of a long, hard, pointed, dagger-like tail, by means of which, 
when overset by the waves, the animal turns itself on its belly again. 
The male may be distinguished from the female by his two large 
claws having only:a single hook each, instead of the forceps of the 
female. In the Bay of Delaware, below Egg Island, and in what is 
usually called Maurice River Cove, these creatures seem to have 
formed one of their principal settlements. The bottom of this cove is 
generally a soft mud, extremely well suited to their accommodation. 
Here they are resident, burying themselves in the mud during the 
winter; but, early in the month of May, they approach the shore in 
multitudes to obey the great law of nature, in depositing their eggs 
within the influence of the sun, and are then very troublesome to the 
fishermen, who can scarcely draw a seine for them, they are so nume- 
rous. Being of slow motion, and easily overset by the surf, their dead 
bodies cover the shore in heaps, and in such numbers, that for ten 
miles one might walk on them without touching the ground. 
The hogs from the neighboring country are regularly driven down, 
every spring, to feed on them, which they do with great avidity; 
though by this kind of food their flesh acquires a strong, disagreeable, 
fishy taste. Even the small turtles, or terrapins, so eagerly sought 
after by our epicures, contract so rank a taste by feeding on the spawn 
of the king crab, as to be at such times altogether unpalatable. This 
spawn may sometimes be seen lying in hollows and eddies, in bushels, 
while the Snipes and Sandpipers, particularly the Turnstone, are 
hovering about, feasting on the delicious fare. The dead bodies of 
the animals themselves are hauled up in wagons for manure, and when 
placed at the hills of corn, in planting time, are said to enrich the soil, 
and add greatly to the increase of the crop. 
The Turnstone derives its name from another singularity it pos- 
sesses, of turning over with its bill small stones and pebbles, in search 
of various marine worms and insects. At this sort of work it is ex- 
ceedingly dexterous; and, even when taken and domesticated, is said 
to retain the same habit.* Its bill seems particularly well constructed 
for this purpose, differing from all the rest of its tribe, and very much 
resembling in shape that of the Common Nuthatch. We learn from 
Mr. Pennant that these birds inhabit Hudson’s Bay, Greenland, and 
the arctic flats of Siberia, where they breed, wandering southerly in 
autumn. It is said to build on the ground, and to lay four eggs, of an 
olive color, spotted with black, and to inhabit the isles of the Baltic 
during summer. 
The Turnstone flies with a loud, twittering note, and runs with its 
wings lowered; but not with the rapidity of others of its tribe. It 
examines more completely the same spot of ground, and, like some of 
* CaTESBY. 
41 
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