OYSTER-CATCHERS 
107 
283.1. Arenaria morinella (Linn.). Ruddy Turnstone. 
Adults. — Throat and belly white, chest crossed by a broad black band; 
back coarsely mottled with rufous and black; head variously streaked. 
Young: similar to adult but duller, without rufous on back, and with the 
chest band mottled dusky gray. Length: 9.00-9.90, wing 6.00, bill .80-.90, 
tarsus 1. 
Distribution. — Arctic America, breeding from the Mackenzie River east¬ 
ward ; south in migration, chiefly coastwise, to Patagonia and the Falkland 
Islands. Rare in the interior and on the Pacific coast. 
Nest. — A slight depression in ground lined with grass and leaves. 
Eggs: usually 4, grayish olive, spotted with dark brown. 
284. Arenaria melanocephala (Vig.). Black Turnstone. 
Adults in summer. — Crown and upper back black, with greenish bronzy 
gloss; rest of head, neck, throat, and chest 
black, spotted on forehead and sides with 
white ; a white spot in front of eye ; belly and 
sides white. Adults in winter: similar, but with 
head, neck, and chest unspotted, sooty black. 
Young: head more grayish than in winter adults 
and feathers of back edged with buffy. Length: 
9, wing 5.80-6.10, bill .85-1.00, tarsus 1.00-1.10. 
Distribution. — Pacific coast of North America 
from Point Barrow to Santa Margarita Island, 
Fig. 125. Winter Plumage. Lower California; breeding from British Colum¬ 
bia northward. 
Nest and eggs as in morinella. 
FAMILY HiEMATOPODIDiE : OYSTER-CATCHERS. 
GENUS HJEMATOPUS. 
General Characters. — Bill straight and flattened, chisel-shaped ; bright 
red in adult, brownish in young; feet and legs short and stout, red ; tail 
square across end. 
KEY TO SPECIES. 
1. Belly and base of tail white . frazari, p. 107. 
1'. Belly and whole plumage blackish. bachmani, p. 107. 
286.1. Hsematopus frazari Brewst. Frazar Oyster-catcher. 
Adults. — Head and neck greenish black ; back rich dark brown ; tail and 
wing quills brownish black ; under parts, base of tail, and patch on wing, 
white. Length: 17-21, wing 9.75-10.27, bill 2.99-3.05, tarsus 2.18-2.30. 
Distribution. — Coasts of southern and Lower California, north to Ven¬ 
tura County. 
The white-bellied oyster-catchers reported from southern Califor¬ 
nia are assumed to b e frazari instead of palliatus of the Atlantic coast. 
287. Haematopus bachmani Aud. Black Oyster-catcher. 
Adults. — Head and neck dull bluish black ; rest of plumage brown- y| 
ish black. Young: duller, S 
more brownish. Length: W 
17.00-17.50, wing 
9.60-10.75, bill 
2.50-2.95, tarsu s 
1.85-2.25. 
i 
Fig. 126. 
Fig. 127. 
