CHAEADRIUS FULVUS VAR. VIRGINICUS. 451 



of the lining of the wings, which is pure white in the European, and 

 ashy-gray in the American species. It cannot, however, be specifically 

 separated from the G. ftilvus of Asia, the C. xanthocheilus, longipes, or 

 taitensis of various Pacific regions — being only varietally distinguishable 

 by its somewhat superior size and usually a slight disproportion in the 

 lengths of the tarsi and toes. My view of the relationships of these 

 several forms is at present substantially the same as that of Prof. 

 Schlegel. 



The Golden Plover migrates through Dakota in large numbers. 

 While traveling over the prairie between Fort Eandall and Yankton, 

 early in May, I was delighted to meet with flock after flock of the birds, 

 in more nearly perfect nuptial attire than I had before seen them any- 

 where in the United States, the under parts appearing, at a little dis- 

 tance, perfectly black. I noticed them particularly in the early morn- 

 ing, feeding at their leisure in scattered parties over the prairie, in com- 

 pany with Bartramiau Tattlers and Esquimaux Curlew. They were 

 not at all shy, and numbers might have been procured had I been so 

 disi)osed. They ran rapidly and lightly in search of food, flew with a 

 mellow, whistling note, and settled again with a momentary graceful 

 poise of the upturned wings. Their stay at this season is brief com- 

 pared with their loitering in the fall, when I again saw them at various 

 points along the Mouse Eiver and the Missouri, in the vicinity of Fort 

 Stevenson, where they reappeared late in September. At this season 

 they coursed over the prairie, often in extensive flocks, feeding on grass- 

 hoppers, and often frequented the pools, forming part of the varied 

 company of waders that flocked to the same resorts. Their favorite 

 associates were the Red-breasted Snipe, with which they mingled on 

 the most intimate terms. Both of these birds, when not too much 

 molested, are gentle and unsuspicious — excellent company for each 

 other, and equally attractive to the sportsman. The earlier arrivals 

 were not in particularly good condition, after the journey from their 

 distant breeding places, but food w^as abundant and easily procured, so 

 that in a short time the birds became exceedingly- fat — some of them 

 weighing five or six ounces. Being in such excellent order and so easily- 

 l)rocurable, the savory morsels often varied our hard fare. 



The Golden Plover breeds only far northward, and is not ordinarily 

 seen in the United States in the advanced breeding plumage above 

 noted. It appears to have no special lines of migration, but passes over 

 the country at large, sometimes in vast flocks, its autumnal progress 

 being more leisurely than its advance in the spring. It reaches its 

 breeding grounds late in May — the Barren Grounds of British America, 

 and the coasts and islands of the Arctic Ocean. It is found throughout 

 Alaska, according to Mr. J)all, and is common all along the Yukon. 

 The same writer states that the nests are made in a hillock of grass, of 

 the same material, and frequently a lew feathers, the eggs being gener- 

 ally only two in number; this, however, is not the rule, the eggs being, 

 as usual in this family, oftenest four in number. They are of the ordi- 

 nary pyriform sliai)e, pointed at on(^ end and very obtuse at the other. 

 The following measurcTnents may indicate extremes of variation in 

 shape— L'.OO by 1.35 ; 1.80 by 1.40. They are distinguished from those 

 of /kV. /<f'/t"e//c« by their decided average smaller size; and though the 

 general pattern of coloration is similar, the shade is not (juite the same. 

 The ground-color is rather a pale, brownish-(day color, than a drab, in 

 most specimens, although sonu» slmde quite closely inlo the drab of 

 helvetica. A few si)ecimens in the large series before me have the 

 ground-color extremely pale grayish-white, nearly dead white. On all 



