234 
ZOOLOGY. 
coverts, back and rump, white. Quills brownish black, with their shafts white ; tail white at base, with its terminal half 
brownish black, and tipped with white. Greater wing coverts widely tipped with white, forming a conspicuous oblique bar 
across the wing ; bill black ; legs orange. In winter the black of the upper parts is more apparent, and the rufous is of less 
extent and of lighter shade. 
Total length, about 9 inches ; extent, 18.75 ; wing, 6 ; tail, 2J inches. Iris brown ; hill and feet black. 
Hub. — Shores of the Atlantic and Pacific, throughout North America. One of the most widely diffused of birds, being 
found in nearly all parts of the world. 
The turnstone passes tlirougli along tlie coast of the Territory on its northern migration in 
May, clad in its beautiful summer dress; and in September returns southward in its plain 
chocolate plumage. Some, perhaps, remain during winter about the shores of Puget Sound. — C. 
STREPSILAS MELANOCEPHALUS, Vigors. 
Black Turnstone. 
Sirepsilas melanocq)lialus, Vigors, Zool. Juur. IV, Jan. 1829, 356. — Ib. Zool. Blossom, 1839, 29. — Gambel, J. A. N. 
Sc. 2d series, Aug. 1849, 220.— Baird & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, 702 
Sp. Ch. — About the size of and having the same general form as the preceding, but differing in color. Head, breast, and 
upper parts of the body fuliginous brown, lighter on the breast, and with every feather having a darker centre ; back and 
wing coverts darker, frequently nearly black and with a greenish lustre ; lower part of back, rump, and upper tail coverts 
white, with a large spot of black on the upper coverts. Abdomen, under tail and under wing coverts white ; tips of greater 
wing coverts white, forming a band across the wing ; shorter tertiaries edged externally white. Bill black ; feet dark orange- 
Quills brownish black, with their shafts white ; tail at base white, with its terminal half black, narrowly tipped with whiter: 
Total length, about 9 inches ; wing, 6 ; tail, 2;^ inches ; extent, 18.75. 
Hah. — Western North America. 
Birds belonging to one or the other of these species are very common in autumn and spring 
on the sand spits and rocky points of Puget Sound and the Straits of Fuca. They arrive from 
the north at the same time as the Lohipes hyperboreiis, about August 20, The bulk of the 
migration passes to the south before cold weather comes on, although a few remain throughout 
the Avinter, I have shot them along the shores of the Straits of Fuca during the months of 
Januai-y, February, and March. 
They are yery abundant in October, on a small rock island nearly opposite Seattle, Puget 
Sound, where they congregate in immense numbers, I found them usually fat, and comparing 
favorably with the tattlers and sandpipers as articles of food. They are not a shy bird, and when 
plentiful are easily obtained, frequently several individuals being killed at one discharge. 
During the cold months they keep in small companies, feeding busily, like the sandpipers, at 
the edge of the water, and when disturbed flying to a short distance from the intruder, Avhen 
again alighting, they eagerly recommence a busy search for their favorite food,— S. 
Family EECURVIROSTRID AE — The Avosets. 
RECURVIROSTRA AMERICANA, Gm. 
American Avoset. 
Reeurvirostra americana, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 693.— Wils. Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 126.— Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 
375.— NuTT. Man. H, 78.— Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 168 ; pi. 318.— Ib. Syn. 252.— Ib, 
Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 247 ; pi. 353.— Baird & Cassin, Gen. Eep. Birds, 703, 
Reeurvirostra occidentalis, Vigors, Zool. Jour. IV, 1829, 356.— Ib. Zool. Blossom, 1839, 28 ; pi. xii. — Wagler, Isis, 
1831,520.— Baird, Zool. Stansbury, Salt Lake, 1852.— Cassin, Illust, I, viii, 1855, 232, 
pi. xl. 
