BUDDY TUBNSTONE 489 



Being restricted in its occurrence in California, both as to season 

 and locality, and with a breeding ground so sequestered as to have 

 completely eluded man's search, the Surf -bird seldom comes under 

 the surveillance of our sportsmen. It is safe to say that it will never 

 be a species of importance among the game birds of the state. It is, 

 nevertheless, a noteworthy member of our bird fauna. As Torrey 

 (1913, p. 138) has aptly said with reference to its unknown nesting 

 habits, "somehow it is impossible not to feel a certain heightened 

 respect for birds that have succeeded in keeping such a secret in 

 despite of man's insatiable curiosity." 



Ruddy Turnstone 



Arenaria interpres morinella (Linnaeus) 



' Other names — Calico-back; Checkered Snipe; Eed-legged Plover; Arenaria 

 interpres; Arenaria morinella; Strepsilas interpres. 



Description — Adult male, in spring and summer: Stripe across forepart of 

 crown and continuing over eye, around back of head, and onto ear region, white; 

 chin and spot at side of bill, white; top of head, streaked with black and white; 

 narrow stripe from top of bill running to and below eye, and connecting with 

 stripe from lower mandible along side of chin, black; bill "black"; iris 

 "hazel" (Audubon, 1842, V, p. 234); neck collar (incomplete behind), black; 

 lower hind neck, mixed white and brownish; back mixed black and rusty brown 

 in coarse pattern; lower back and longer upper tail coverts, white; shorter 

 upper tail coverts brownish black forming a dark ' ' rump patch ' ' set in white ; 

 tail white at base, blackish brown terminally; outer feathers of tail slightly 

 lighter, and outermost ones extensively marked, and all the feathers tipped, 

 with white; outer surface of closed wing chiefly rusty brown; tips of greater 

 coverts, bases of primaries, and most of secondaries white, forming a con- 

 spicuous band across expanded wing; primaries chiefly blackish brown, shafts 

 largely ivory white; lining of wing and axillars, wholly white; under surface 

 of flight feathers white, becoming pale drab toward tips; foreneck, sides of 

 chest, and shoulders, solidly black, abruptly outlined; rest of under surface 

 pure white; feet and legs "deep orange-red," claws "black" (Audubon, loc. 

 cit.). Adult female, in spring and summer: Similar to adult male at same season, 

 but with coloration more subdued, black areas brown toned, and white areas 

 invaded with dusky (W. Palmer, 1899, p. 413). Adults, ioth sexes, in winter: 

 Similar to adults in summer, but black feathers edged with white, and rusty 

 brown markings on back less conspicuous (Sanford, Bishop and Van Dyke, 

 1903, p. 482). Males: Total length 7.75-9.62 inches (197-244 mm.) (four speci- 

 mens from California and Lower California); folded wing "5.45-5.95" (138.5- 

 151.0); bill along culmen "0.86-0.95" (21.8-24.1); tarsus "0.89-1.07" (22.6- 

 27.2) (twenty specimens from Virginia). Females: Total length 9.40-10.40 

 (238-264) (two specimens from California and Lower California); folded wing 

 "5.72-6.08" (145-154); bill along culmen "0.88-0.99" (22.4-25.2)} tarsus 

 "0.99-1.07" (25.2-27.2) (eleven specimens from Virginia) (measurements, 

 except of total length, from W. Palmer, 1899, p. 417). Juvenile plumage: Top 

 and sides of head and neck, dull brown, mottled with pale bufE; forehead and 

 areas below and behind eye, dull white, flecked with brownish; chin and throat 



