394 
THE SAVAGE WORLD. 
The Kildeer Plover ( Egialitis vociferus) is also a common bird, with habits 
very similar to those of the golden plover, though they do not go in such large 
flocks. Usually they are found consorting with other species, and making 
the air resonant with their cries of kil-deer , 
or te-te-de-dit te-dit. They are not considered 
as game birds. 
The Sand-piper ( Tringoides hypolenca ) 
is found throughout the Western States in 
the spring and summer season flying in 
large flocks, like blackbirds, or running 
around the shores of ponds tipping their 
tails in a curious fashion. Again they may 
be seen; especially towards mid-day, stand¬ 
ing as still as so many decoys, in a field, 
ready to rise at any effort to approach them. 
Their bodies are too small to admit of 
them being classed as game birds, though they are frequently sold in markets. 
The Oyster Catcher (. Hcematopus ostralegus) is found all along the Atlantic 
coast, from Maine to Florida, but it 
gold piper ( Charadrias auratus). 
OYSTER CATCHER. 
is more common on the Jersey shore. 
It feeds on crabs, sand-fiddlers and 
other small shell-fish, and may be 
seen running rapidly along the water’s 
edge, driving its bill into the sand 
apparently aimlessly, and again stop¬ 
ping to bore. It will also insert its 
bill between the open shells of an 
oyster and eat the mollusk therein. 
It is a shy bird, and not much 
hunted. Its length is eighteen inches. 
The Pebble-turner ( Strepsilas interpret) is found both in North America 
and Europe. The name is derived from its movements when feeding, at 
which times it runs along the beach picking up sand-hoppers, marine worms 
and other Crustacea, and turning over the 
stones in its course, for the purpose of 
getting at the little animals that have taken 
refuge underneath. It also has a curious 
habit of knocking pebbles from side to 
side, though evidently done in search for 
prey. It usually builds its nest under the 
strong shelter of an overhanging rock, safe 
from wind and wave. Its color is a bright 
rust-red, white underneath, with a broad band 
of black above the tail-coverts. 
The Knot, or Irish Sanderling ( Tringa 
canutus ) is also a habitant of both hemi¬ 
spheres. It is so called in honor of King Canute, and on account of its 
habit of running towards the sea at each receding wave, and retreating again 
at the approach, thus keeping always very near the water. Its habits are, 
otherwise, similar to those of the sand-piper, which it equals in size. 
PEBBLE TURNER. 
