STREPSILID2E — THE TURNSTONES — STREPSILAS. 
121 
Deriving its name from its singular habit of turning over small stones when search- 
ing for food, in quest of the marine insects that lurk underneath them, it is as 
remarkable in its appearance as in its habits. The singular variety of its colors 
and the beauty of its plumage render it conspicuous, and cause it to be universally 
noticed. 
Mr. F. Ducane Godman mentions (Ibis, 1866) meeting with this species in the 
Azores. A few pairs could always be found among the rocks between Santa Cruz and 
Punta Delgada, on Flores. He obtained several specimens in June, in the full breeding- 
plumage, and he had no doubt that they were breeding on the small islands near the 
coast, as they remained there all the year. He afterward met with others in Fayal, 
near Capellas, and has no doubt that this bird may be found on the coast of the 
entire group in greater or less numbers. The same writer, in his paper on the 
migratory birds of Madeira and the Canaries (Ibis, 1871), again expresses his belief 
that the Turnstone breeds in the Azores, and also on the Canary Islands, where it is 
not uncommon near the coast. 
Dr. J. C. Merrill mentions the presence of this species during the months of May 
and June along the coast of Southwestern Texas, and was confident that it was 
breeding there — an opinion strongly corroborated by his procuring examples of 
females with denuded breast, the almost sure evidence of their having been nesting 
birds. 
Mr. Nelson also speaks of having found the Turnstone as a common migrant 
along the shores of Lake Michigan, in which neighborhood it arrives about the loth 
of May, coming in full bridal plumage and remaining into June. It returns again in 
August, still in the full breeding-plumage, which it loses about the last of that month. 
It does not leave that neighborhood until about the 20th of December. 
Mr. E. L. Layard, when off Cape St. Francis, Africa, but out of sight of land, 
observed a flock of four that came off to his vessel. Mr. E. C. Taylor (Ibis, 1878) 
mentions the procuring by Mr. Fillipponi of three or four examples of this bird in 
Egypt. 
Mr. P. Swinhoe enumerates this species in his list of the birds of Formosa (Ibis, 
1863). It comes there in small flocks, and, associating with the Sanderling, departs 
after a short stay. The same writer, in his paper on the Birds of Hainan, mentions 
finding large flocks of these birds in the Poochin Fiver on the 5tli of March. They 
sat on the fishing stakes, or ranged themselves in rows on the ropes which ran from 
one to the other. These birds were all just assuming their summer plumage. 
This species has been taken in Senegal, and specimens of it have also been ob- 
tained at the Cape of Good Hope. Temminck includes it among the birds of Japan, 
and mentions having received specimens of it from New Guinea, Sunda, and the 
Moluccas. 
Dr. Middendorff gives it as among the birds of Siberia and Northern Russia, and 
includes it among those which go to the extreme north. It is found thence through- 
out Europe southward to Italy, Sicily, Malta, and Africa. Von Baer met with it in 
Nova Zembla. Professor A. Newton noticed its presence on Spitzbergen, and this 
was afterward confirmed by Professor A. J. Malmgren (Ibis, 1869), who found a pair 
on Amsterdam Island. Mr. C. A. Wright mentions it as an irregular and rare visitant 
of Malta, appearing there in May, August, and September, and once in December. 
Mr. H. Saunders notices it as appearing regularly in Southern Spain in its migrations. 
Wheelwright speaks of it as common in the south of Sweden, in the Baltic, and on 
the Norwegian coast. It goes up far within the Polar Circle. He has found it 
breeding, and as often sitting on three eggs as on four. 
vol. x. — 16 . 
