608 
SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. —LUIICOL^. 
57. Subfamily STREPSILAIN^ : Turnstones. 
The character of the subfamily should be constructed to 
include Aphriza, unless Strejpsilas and Aphriza may con- 
stitute two subfamilies of a family Aphrizidce. (See p. 605, 
under Aplirizince.) 
223. STREP'SILAS. (Gr. arpeylns, strepsis, a turning over, 
Xas, las, a stone. Fig. 422.) Turnstones. Bill shorter 
than head, not longer than tarsus, constricted at base, then 
tapering to an acute tip, almost a little recurved. Culmen Fig. 422. — Bill of Turnstone, nat. 
straight or a little concave, especially over nostrils ; com- ^' ^'^ 
missure straight or slightly recurved; under outline curving up from the base, or straight to 
angle, then gonys ascending. Nasal fossae short and broad, about half the length of the bill ; 
Fig. 423. — Turnstone, ^ nat. size. (From Brehm.) 
grooving of under mandible short and shallow. Gonys longer than mandibular rami. Wings 
long and pointed. Tail short, a little rounded, scarcely or not half as long as wing. Legs 
short and stout ; tibiae little denuded ; tarsus scutellate in front, reticulate on sides and behind, 
about as long as middle toe and claw. Toes 4, the hinder short, but as well developed as in 
sandpipers generally, the front toes cleft to the base. Claws curved, compressed, acute. 
There is probably but one cosmopolitan species, the scientific and vernacular names of which 
are both derived from its habit of turning over pebbles along the shore in search of food. 
