RoeeAVD UB ON BULCEEDIUN 35 
Surt-bird. ‘To see a Surf-bird one must go farther north, either to Cypress 
Point or beyond. It has yellow legs and uniformly brownish gray upper- 
parts when not in flight, that is, in contrast to the Black ‘Turnstone, which 
has a very dark leaf-like pattern on back and folded wings. Just north 
of Cypress Point I also saw this winter a Ruddy Turnstone in company 
with Black Turnstones. It has orange red legs and blackish semicircular 
markings on the breast. “The Ruddy Turnstone, an immature, was using 
its bill to roll a pine cone down the shelf of the beach. Nearby, a Black 
Oyster-catcher was uttering its sharp squeal, while in the path of the 
pine cone stood a large gull which paid little attention to the performance 
of the Turnstone. ‘The stone-turning habit of these species is indeed 
interesting. While walking with some friends along the edge of the 
cliff above the pebbled beach of the cove, one of the party detected a high 
crackling sound of the stones some distance below. ‘This sound was 
mingled with the roar of the sea and the lower note of the large pebbles 
pulled down into the water by the receding waves. A look through a 
bird glass revealed a number of Black Turnstones who, in search of 
their breakfast, were flinging stones aside with their bills. 
Photograph by A. M. Bailey 
THE CALIFORNIA GULL 
