326 
TURNSTONE. 
spawn may sometimes be seen lying in hollows and eddies in 
bushels, while the Snipes and Sandpipers, particularly the 
Turnstone, are hovering about feasting on the delicious fare. 
The dead bodies of the animals themselves are hauled up in 
wagons for manure, and when placed at the hills of corn, in 
planting time, are said to enrich the soil, and add greatly to 
the increase of the crop. 
The Turnstone derives its name from another singularity it 
possesses, of turning over with its bill small stones and pebbles, 
in search of various marine worms and insects. At this sort 
of work it is exceedingly dexterous ; and, even when taken 
and domesticated, is said to retain the same habit.* Its bill 
seems particularly well constructed for this purpose, differing 
from all the rest of its tribe, and very much resembling in 
shape that of the Common Nuthatch. We learn from Mr 
Pennant that these birds inhabit Hudson’s Bay, Greenland, 
and the arctic flats of Siberia, where they breed, wandering 
southerly in autumn. It is said to build on the ground, and 
to lay four eggs, of an olive colour, spotted with black, and to 
inhabit the isles of the Baltic during summer. 
The Turnstone flies with a loud twittering note, and runs 
with its wings lowered ; but not with the rapidity of others of 
its tribe. It examines more completely the same spot of 
ground, and, like some of the Woodpeckers, will remain 
searching in the same place, tossing the stones and pebbles 
from side to side for a considerable time. 
These birds vary greatly in colour ; scarcely two individuals 
are to be found alike in markings. These varieties are most 
numerous in autumn when the young birds are about, and are 
less frequently met with in spring. The most perfect speci- 
mens I have examined are as follows : — 
Length eight inches and a half, extent seventeen inches; 
bill, blackish horn ; frontlet, space passing through the eyes, 
and thence dropping down and joining the under mandible. 
* Catesby. 
