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Genus STEEPSILAS. 



Arenaria apud Brisson, Orn. v. p. 132 (1760). 



Tringa apud Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 248 (1766). 



Morinella apud Meyer, Taschenb. deutsch. Vogelk. ii. p. 383 (1810). 



Strepsilas, Illiger, Prodromus, p. 263 (1811). 



Charadrius apud Pallas, Zoogr. Rosso- As. ii. p. 148 (1811). 



Cinclus apud G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of B. p. 87 (1841). 



The Turnstones, of which there are only two species known, Strepsilas interpres and Strepsilas 

 vielanocephalus, inhabit the major portion of the globe, being found in all the Zoogeographical 

 Regions. They are essentially shore-birds, frequenting shingly and rocky portions of the sea- 

 shore. They feed on insects and their larvae, small crustaceans, marine worms, &c, not unfre- 

 quently turning over the small stones in search of food. Their call-note is a clear, loud whistle 

 uttered slowly at first, and then more rapidly. They run with great swiftness, often consorting 

 with other Waders ; and their flight is swift and strong, generally in semicircular curves, as the 

 bird now glides close to the water and now at some altitude in the air. 



They breed in the vicinity of the sea, their nest being a mere depression in the ground, 

 sparingly lined with a few grass-bents ; and their eggs, four in number, are greenish grey, more 

 or less blotched and spotted with purplish grey and dull brown or olivaceous brown. 



Strepsilas interpres, the type of the genus, has the bill rather shorter than the head, slightly 

 bent upwards beyond the middle, compressed until towards the end, when it becomes depressed, 

 tip rounded, blunt ; nasal groove about half the length of the bill ; the gape-line slightly curved 

 upwards ; nostrils linear, subbasal, pervious ; wings long, pointed, the first quill longest, inner 

 secondaries elongated, pointed ; tail moderately short, slightly rounded ; legs moderately long, 

 slender ; tibia bare for a short distance ; tarsus rather short, compressed, anteriorly scutellate ; 

 hind toe small, the anterior toes moderately long, very slightly webbed at the base ; claws 

 moderately short, compressed, arched, obtuse, that on the hind toe much more curved, and 

 that on the middle toe with the inner edge slightly dilated. 



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