259 
THE TURNSTONE. 
Strcpsilas interpres, Leach. 
PLATE XX. 
Tringa interpres, Linn. — Stripsilas interpres, Leach. — Le 
Tourne piere a Collier, Temm . — (Tringa moiinella, Linn. 
— Hebrida! Sandpiper. — Synonyms of the young or first 
plumage.) — Turnstone or Sea Dotterel of British authors. 
i 
The Turnstone is only a winter visitant to the 
British Isles. It breeds in the north of Europe and 
in the cold latitudes of both hemispheres, migrating 
late in spring from this country, and returning again 
with its brood in August. From the time of its re- 
turn, during the winter and in early spring, it may 
be found in small parties along the shores, frequent- 
ing chiefly those parts where there are jutting-out 
ledges of rock, or the smaller rocky islands ; and 
being somewhat local in its habits, particular places 
are seldom without it. It feeds on nearly the same 
substances as the Tringm and Maritime Dotterels ; 
but, as the name implies, it actively turns over 
the small stones and other bodies on the feeding 
ground in search of prey ; and, it is probable, that 
this is more confined to the particular animals 
that hide or live under cover. The flight is rapid, 
