330 



TURNSTONE. 



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 

 possesses/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 exceedingly 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 colour, 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 the woodpeckers, will remain search- 

 ing in the same place, tossing the stones and pebbles from side 

 to side for a considerable time. 



These birds vary greatly in colour ; scarcely two individuals 

 are to be found alike in markings. These varieties are most 

 numerous in autumn when the young birds are about, and are 

 less frequently met with in spring. The most perfect speci- 

 mens I have examined are as follows : — 



* Catesby. 



