CHARADRIID.E — THE PLOVERS — CHARADRIUS. 141 



or chirping, is heard during the month of their passage at all hours of the night. 

 They often, when passing, fly at a great elevation. He states that, several minutes 

 before the sun had appeared above the horizon, he has seen it shining brightly on 

 the under-part of their body and wings. They pass southward in early autumn in the 

 same way, travelling Avide-scattered, both night and day. He considered it a poor 

 bird for food, never having been so fortunate as to get a fat one. 



Their migrations in the fall are more generally noticed, and are more remarkable 

 than those which take place in the spring. They occur with great regularity late in 

 August, when the great body of the migrating flocks move south with so much regu- 

 larity, and with the areomplislmient of such great distances passed over without 

 opportunity for rest, as to excite much interest. A succession of flocks pass through 

 Nova Scotia, striking boldly out to sea, and if the weather is fair, taking a direct 

 line soutlnvard ; tliey go to the east of the Bermudas, and if not interfered with 

 by storms, make no stops until the West Indies are reached. They even pass over 

 the first of these in their course. Should an easterly storm prevail about the 24th 

 of August, the birds are driven from their path, and pass in large numbers over the 

 eastern portion of Elaine, and subsequently over the southeastern extremity of 

 Massachusetts. In some seasons large numbers suddenly appear on Montauk Point, 

 at the east end of Long Island. Mr. Lawrence states that Avhen they are seen m 

 such numbers it is usually about the 28th of August, not varying more than a day 

 or two from that time, and then only when a southeast storm has driven them o\it 

 of their regular course over the sea on to the island. Mr. Lawrence was at this point 

 in August, 1858, and a southeast storm began on the 27th of that month. Flocks 

 of these birds were just appearing as he left on that day, and he afterward learned 

 that on the 28th they came in imusual numbers. In these visitations they remain 

 but a short time, the main body moving on south in tAvo or three days. In ordi- 

 nary seasons only a few flocks pass the Point at the time of their migration. As 

 the result of long observation, Mr. Patrick Gould — Mr. Lawrence's informant — had 

 made out that unless a storm occurred just at the time named, no unusual flight took 

 place, showing that their principal migration is made each year at a fixed period, 

 and is ended within two or three days. Giraud, whose observations of this Plover 

 are confined to their constant and regular migrations, and who took no note of these 

 extraordinary flights, states that in their northern movements in spring they arrive 

 on Long Island in the latter part of April, and soon pass on to more northern 

 regions. They return in the early part of September, and frequent the Plains of 

 Hempstead, Shinnecock Hill, and Montauk, where they feed on a variety of insects. 

 Grasshoppers are their favorite fare, as well as berries. Occasionally he met with 

 these birds along the shores and about the ponds or the low wet meadows ; but they 

 generally prefer high and dry land, unincumbered with woods. Hempstead Plains 

 are well adapted to their habits, and in some seasons they are quite abundant on 

 that miniature prairie. To Long Island hunters, and in the New York market, this 

 is known as the " Frost Bird," as it is usually most plentiful during the first frosts 

 of autumn, when it is in fine condition and exceedingly well flavored. 



In regard to the appearance of this bird at Bermuda, Major Wedderburn states 

 that during some years large flocks pass over those islands ; but he gives the time 

 as September and October, instead of the latter part of August — the usual epoch of 

 its migrations. Except in stormy weather, it does not alight in any great numbers. 

 In 1847 the flight was as early as the 21st of August, and in 1848 a single bird was 

 seen on the 2oth of July. On the 9th of March, 1852, one was shot on the north 

 shore — the only instance of its appearing in spring. To this statement Mr. Hurdis 



