STEEPSILAS INTEEPEES. 
903 
young and old birds at Eas Belul in September, and observed the species on the east coast of the continent as 
far south as Zela and Berbera. Vierthaler also met with it on the White Nile. It extends southwards along 
the whole coast to Mozambique and Zambesi ; and at the Cape is resident, Layard believing that it breeds 
there. Up the south-west coast it is not uncommon, and has been observed at various places northward to 
the Gold Coast. Between this and Morocco it does not seem to have been met with. In the Canaries, tlie 
Azores, and Madeira it is not uncommon ; and Mr. DuCane Godman believes that it breeds in Flores and 
probably in the Canaries, in which latter islands Dr. Bolle says it is a constant resident, he being also of 
opinion that it must breed in some of the group. 
As regards the range of the Turnstone in the New World, Mr. Dresser writes: — “On the American 
continent the distribution of this species is almost equally wide, as it is found from the Hudson’s-Bay Territory 
down to the southern portion of South America. Capt. Blakiston states ('Ibis/ 1863, p. 130) that he received 
several specimens from York Factory, where he observed it in August; and in the 'Fauna Bor. -Am/ Mr. Boss 
gives it as a rare bird on the Mackenzie. On the east coast of North America I observed it on the shores of 
the Bay of Fundy, where, however, it is rare. It is met with during the seasons of migration, or in the 
winter, on the shores of eastern North America in tolerable numbers. Mr. Elliott Coues says that in North 
Carolina it is very common during migration, and some winter there/’ Mr. Dresser himself met with it in 
Texas, procuring it in June at Galveston. He further adds : — “ On the west coast it was met with by Messrs. 
Dali and Bannister in Alaska, where, Mr. Dali says, it was not common at the mouth of the Yukon; and, 
according to Dr. Finsch, it was obtained in Amachnak, near Unalaschka, at the end of August, by Yon Kittlitz. 
Southward it is met with as far as Chili/’ In the latter it was obtained by the 'Novara’ expedition; and 
Dumon procured it in Peru, as well as in the Galapagos Islands. Mr. Salvin states that it inhabits both 
coasts of Guatemala ; and Mr. Lawrence says that it was obtained in Mexico on the Rio Zacatula. In the 
Bahamas it has been met with in April, and it has also occurred in Bermuda. Gosse observed it in Jamaica; 
and in Cuba it is stated by Dr. Gundlach to be common from September till May. In the island of St. Croix 
Professor Newton met w r ith it in April, and Mr. E. Newton in September. 
Habits . — As will be gathered from its distribution above sketched, this interesting bird is purely a littoral 
species, rarely being found away from the sea-shore, except during the course of its migration. It frequents 
the sandy shores of the vast area of the globe just referred to, and subsists on small sand- worms, sand-flies, 
and other marine insects and their larvae, as well as tiny crustaceans and minute shells, which it swallows 
whole, and which it is said in a great measure to find beneath pebbles, stones, large shells, pieces of seaweed, 
dead fish, or any other substance lying on the beach, and turned over by it with its upeurved bill. In Ceylon 
I have found it on the pebbly sand flats on the north-west coast, about the beaches of the islands, and sometimes 
at the edge of the ooze just after the ebb of the tide, or, again, on the margins of shingly lagoons near the 
shore in the south-eastern district. It is frequently noticed singly or in small parties of three or four, as well 
as in considerable flocks, which feed in scattered company, and consort with the Mongolian Sand-Plover, the 
Curlew- and the Little Stint. It is a very elegant bird in its actions and deportment, running swiftly, then 
suddenly stopping and peering down among the pebbles, its small head and well-proportioned frame forming 
a graceful outline against the foaming tide. It cannot be called a very shy bird, though it will not permit a 
very near approach, generally rising when one is within 50 or 60 yards of it. Its flight is swift and strong ; 
its long-pointed wings are beaten rapidly, and then often extended for an instant, when it will glide along for 
some little distance and then resume its course, flying generally low. It has been recently proved that it swims 
about a good deal. Mr. Hume writes of it in the Laccadives as frequently swimming outside the breakers 
surrounding the reefs there. He remarks that ''they rose out of the water with the greatest ease, took short 
flights, and dropped down again into the sea, in which they appear to be ^perfectly at home.” It likewise 
perches on elevated objects, thus showing its aflinityto the Sandpipers. S winhoe writes that in Hainan “they 
sat on the fishing-stakes, and ranged themselves in rows on the ropes that ran from stake to stake.” In the 
Andamans also Mr. Davison observed them sitting on the gunwhales of " boats, in company with the Common 
Sandpiper.” I have never observed them turning over stones in search of food, but have only noticed them 
picking it up in the ordinary way. Audubon, however, has seen them turning over oysters and clods of mud, 
and relates that “ whenever the object was not too large the hir'd bent its legs to half their length, placed its bill 
