The Turnstones 



In two of the accompanying illustrations Black Turnstones are to be 

 seen with "Ruddies," and in their passage up and down the sands the 

 birds grouped and regrouped irrespective of species. These particular 

 birds, encountered on the 21st day of August, 1912, proved very suscep- 

 tible to judicious approach. By slow advances or by show of indirection, 

 I got within twenty or thirty feet of them several times. Several times, 

 also, I stood motionless down shore and allowed them to feed up toward 

 me, which they did with little hesitation. When pressed too closely, 

 however, they retreated beyond the reach of the waves and stood in 

 motionless expectancy. When at last the camerist pressed his suit too 

 ardently, the Turnstones rose and took refuge with a distant flock of 

 Marbled Godwits. And later, because they had no real cause for com- 

 plaint, the Turnstones proved an important factor in lulling the fears 

 of those timorous fowls. 



Migrations are occasionally conducted across country, and the Turn- 

 stones in this event are fond of foraging in plowed fields. The birds are 

 silent and intent only upon feeding. This they do by advancing slowly 

 over the ground, gleaning from its surface and turning over the clods which 

 lie in their path to search eagerly beneath. It is rather amusing to see a 

 bird walk up to a clod bigger than itself and several times as heavy, insert 

 its beak, and give an odd little bunt with an upward jerk which sends the 

 clod rolling a foot or more. Sometimes a lump of earth, more firmly im- 

 bedded, offers resistance, in which case the bird will make another honest 

 effort or pass on unconcerned. 



In flight the Turnstones bunch closely at first, but afterwards scatter 

 a little more widely, and wheel and turn after the. manner of Killdeers in 

 autumn. The chief impression is of flashing white, as they quarter before 

 the sun, or as they settle again in some distant portion of the field with 

 wings daintily uplifted. 



BREAKFASTING 

 THE 2ND AND 4TH BIRDS. FROM THE LEFT. ARE "BLACKS" 



*34I 



