CHARADRIID^ — THE PLOVERS — SQUATAROLA. 135 



In the Appendix to Captain Parry's Second Voyage, Eichardson states that this 

 bird was found breeding near the nmrgins of the marshes immediately to the south- 

 west of Fury Point in considerable numbers. Some specimens were also obtained 

 near Felix Harbor. The same writer, in his " Fauna Boreali- Americana," states that 

 it breeds in open ground from Pennsylvania to the northern extremity of the con- 

 tinent. This is a mistake — an error originally of Wilson's, but copied also by 

 Audubon, jSTuttall, and Samuels. It does not breed within the limits of the United 

 States, and probably nowhere south of the extreme northern latitudes. Specimens 

 "have been received from Hudson's Bay by Captain Blakiston which had been taken 

 there by Mr. INIurray. It was found on tlie Mackenzie by Mr. Ross, where, however, 

 it was rare. 



This Plover passes northward through the United States in May, and returns 

 southward in August. It occurs sparingly in various parts of this country irregu- 

 larly during the intervening winter months from August to May. According to 

 Giraud, it reaches Long Island early in the month of May, and spends but a few 

 days on the sandbars and beaches, then leaving for the north. In the month of 

 August it returns with its young. These are so different in their plumage, that by 

 many gunners they are supposed to be a different bird, and are kno'uai as the " Bull- 

 headed Plover" or the ••Beetle-headed Plover." They are very shy, but may fre- 

 quently be enticed within gunshot l)y imitating their plaintive note. In autumn they 

 are found along the whole sea-coast of Long Island, subsisting on minute shell-fish 

 and marine insects, and becoming very fat. They remain until the latter part of 

 September, when they move southward. Early in the autumn this bird is very abun- 

 dant about Montauk Point, and during September Giraud met with it throughout 

 his entire route across the hills, but found it most numerous on a large bare spot 

 abounding with grubs, worms, and insects of various kinds, about four miles from 

 the lighthouse. 



According to Lewis this bird is best known to sportsmen of tlie Middle States 

 as the " Old Field," or " "Whistling " Plover. It passes through New Jersey early 

 in May, and returns in August. 



Those that feed on the uplands on berries and grasshoppers are fat and of a fine 

 flavor ; but those frequenting the sea-coast soon acquire a sedgy and unpleasant 

 taste. They naturally fly high, and keep up an incessant whistling, which is easily 

 imitated and made use of as a decoy. This bird is difficult of approach while feed- 

 ing, and its capture requires much precaution and the use of various stratagems. 



So far as it is possible to ascertain, this Plover does not breed in the mountains 

 of Pennsylvania ; and the statements of Wilson and Audubon in regard to its breed- 

 ing habits, and their description of its nests and eggs, must be admitted to have been 

 based on incorrect information. The eggs described by Wilson are probably those of 

 the Willet, and do not at all resemble those of this species ; while the eggs described 

 by Audiibon are yet more dissimilar, and without much doubt were those of Bartram's 

 Tattler, Avhich, as well as this species, is known as the " Field Plover." 



In its winter wanderings this species visits the West Indies, Mexico, Central 

 America, and parts of South America. Early in September, or from the 5th to the 

 10th, they are found on the Eio Grande, and return on their way north during the 

 latter part of May. Mr. Salvin states that it occurs on the sandy plains of Chiapan, 

 in Guatemala, where it was found intermingled with flocks of Trhujce. Leotaud 

 mentions it as a migratory visitant in Trinidad, where it is hardly ever seen by 

 itself, but is usually in the midst of a flock of the Charadrius virginicus. It arrives 

 about the end of August, and leaves in October. The Beetle-head not only accbm- 



