WILSON'S PLOVER. 527 



portions of its range. The name Mountain Plover is scarcely appropriate. The bird inhabits 

 high plains, but not, in any sense, mountains. Quite unlike other Plovers, it does not frequent 

 the seashore, and is in no degree an aquatic bird, but prefers dry, sterile plains ; accompany- 

 ing Shore Larks, Titlarks, and the Burrowing Owl. It sometimes inhabits sandy plains, where 

 the prickly pear and wild sage grow abundantly. It is seen in New Mexico, between the 

 Rio Grande and the base of the mountains, in great abundance, associated with Long-billed 

 Curlews. Dr. Coues tells us that they, on being disturbed, "lower the head, and run rapidly 

 a few steps in a light, easy way, and then stop abruptly, drawing themselves up to their full 

 height, and looking around with timid yet unsuspicious glances. Their notes are rather pecu- 

 liar, as compared with those of our other Plovers, and vary a good deal, according to circum- 

 stances. When the birds are feeding at their leisure, and no way apprehensive of danger, they 

 utter a low and rather pleasing whistle, though in a somewhat drawling, or rather lisping, 

 tone ; but the note changes to a louder and higher one, sometimes sounding harshly. When 

 forced to fly by persistent annoyance, they rise rapidly, with quick wing-beats, and then pro- 

 ceed, with alternate sailing and flapping, during the former action holding the wings decurved. 

 They generally fly low over the ground, and soon re-alight, taking a few mincing steps as they 

 touch the ground. They then either squat low, in hopes of hiding, or stand on tip-toe, as it 

 were, for a better view of what alarmed them." 



The food of this Plover consists of insects mostly, especially the grasshoppers, when great 

 numbers are present. It is then this bird is excellent eating, becoming very fat from the 

 superabundance of food. 



WILSON'S PLOVER (OcMhodromus wilsonius). This bird is almost as circumscribed in 

 habitat as the preceding, but on precisely opposite sides of the hemisphere ; its range being con- 

 fined to the eastern and southern portions of the United States, and the same in South America. 

 Its long, stout bill renders it easily known ; its short tail also is a characteristic feature. 



When Wilson wrote about the birds of America, this bird was regarded as new to him. 

 It was subsequently named in his honor, by Mr. Ord. Referring to this bird, he wrote : 



" Of this neat and prettily marked species, I can find no account, and have concluded that 

 it has hitherto escaped the eye of the naturalist. The bird was shot on the shore at Cape 

 Island, New Jersey, by my ever-regretted friend, and I have honored it with his name. It was 

 a male, and was accompanied by another of the same sex, and a female, all of which were 

 fortunately obtained." Its favorite resort is the sandy flats near the sea-shore. 



The ever-enthusiastic Audubon praises the bird in the highest terms : 



"Reader, imagine yourself standing motionless on some of the sandy shores between 

 South Carolina and the extremity of Florida, waiting with impatience for the return of day ; 

 or, if you dislike the idea, imagine me there. The air is warm and pleasant, the smooth sea 

 reflects the feeble glimmerings of the fading stars, the sound of living thing is not heard. 

 Nature, universal Nature is at rest, and here am I, inhaling the grateful sea-air, with eyes 

 intent of .the dim distance. See the bright blaze that issues from the verge of the waters ! and 

 now the sun himself appears, and all is life, or seems to be ; for, as the influence of the 

 Divinity is to the universe, so is that of the sun to the things of this world. Far away, 

 beyond that treacherous reef, floats a gallant bark, that seems slumbering on the bosom of 

 the waters like a silvery sea-bird. Gentle breezes now creep over the ocean, and ruffle its 

 surface into tiny wavelets. The ship glides along, the fishes leap with joy, and on my ear 

 comes the well-known note of the bird which bears the name of one whom every ornithologist 

 must honor. Long have I known the bird myself, and yet, desirous of knowing it better, I 

 have returned to this beach many successive seasons for the purpose of observing its ways, 

 examining its nest, marking the care with which it rears its 'young, and the attachment which 

 it manifests to its mate. Well, let the scene vanish ! 



"Wilson's Plover! I love the bird and its name, because of the respect I bear towards 

 him to whose memory the bird has been dedicated. How pleasing, I have thought, it would 

 have been to me, to have met with him on such an excursion, and, after having procured a few 

 of his own birds, to have listened to him as he would speak of a thousand interesting facts 



