16 
STREPSILAS INTERPRES. 
is generally a soft mud, extremely well suited to their 
accommodation. Here they are resident, burying' them- 
selves in the mud during- the winter ; but, early in the 
month of May, they approach the shore in multitudes, 
to obey the great law of nature, in depositing their 
eggs within the influence of the sun, and are then very 
troublesome to the fishermen, who can scarcely draw a 
seine for them, they are so numerous. Being of slow 
motion, and easily overset by the surf, their dead bodies 
cover the shore in heaps, and in such numbers, that for 
ten miles one might walk on them without touching 
the ground. h 
The hogs from the neighbouring country are regu- 
larly driven down, every spring, to feed on them, which 
they do with great avidity ; though by this kind of food 
their flesh acquires a strong disagreeable fishy taste. 
Even the small turtles, or terrapins, so eagerly sought 
after by our epicures, contract so rank a taste by feeding 
on the spawn of the king crab, as to be at such times 
altogether unpalatable. This 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 singu- 
larity 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 particu- 
larly 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 
* Catesby. 
4 
