The Turnstones 
In two of the accompanying illustrations Black Turnstones are to he 
seen with “Ruddies,” and in their passage up and down the sands the 
birds grouped and regrouped irrespective of species. These particular 
birds, encountered on the 21st day of August, 1912, proved very suscep¬ 
tible to judicious approach. By slow advances or by show of indirection, 
I got within twenty or thirty feet of them several times. Several times, 
also, I stood motionless down shore and allowed them to feed up toward 
me, which they did with little hesitation. When pressed too closely, 
however, they retreated beyond the reach of the waves and stood in 
motionless expectancy. When at last the camerist pressed his suit too 
ardently, the Turnstones rose and took refuge with a distant flock of 
Marbled Godwits. And later, because they had no real cause for com¬ 
plaint, the Turnstones proved an important factor in lulling the fears 
of those timorous fowls. 
Migrations are occasionally conducted across country, and the Turn¬ 
stones in this event are fond of foraging in plowed fields. The birds are 
silent and intent only upon feeding. This they do by advancing slowly 
over the ground, gleaning from its surface and turning over the clods which 
lie in their path to search eagerly beneath. It is rather amusing to see a 
bird walk up to a clod bigger than itself and several times as heavy, insert 
its beak, and give an odd little bunt with an upward jerk which sends the 
clod rolling a foot or more. Sometimes a lump of earth, more firmly im¬ 
bedded, offers resistance, in which case the bird will make another honest 
effort or pass on unconcerned. 
In flight the Turnstones bunch closely at first, but afterwards scatter 
a little more widely, and wheel and turn after the manner of Killdeers in 
autumn. The chief impression is of flashing white, as they quarter before 
the sun, or as they settle again in some distant portion of the field with 
wings daintily uplifted. 
