470 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



The measurements of the example killed here are as follows : — 

 Total length, 9-43 ins. (240 mm.); length of wing, 7-125 ins, 

 (181 mm,.), projecting 1"125 ins. (28 mm.) beyond tail. The tibia 

 measures 2-62 ins. (66 mm.), and the tarsus, 1'69 in. (43 tnm.). 



The breeding home of this species extends throughout the 

 whole of Northern America fi-om the Atlantic Ocean to Behring's 

 Strait. The only authenticated mstance of its occurrence in 

 Europe was furnished by the example shot here forty-one years 

 ago (1888) and preserved in my collection. An example was 

 indeed found, in November 1882, in a game and poultry market ^ 

 in London (J. H. Gurney, jun., Ibis, 1883, p. 198); but Dresser, as 

 well as Seebohm and Saunders, hesitate to admit the species, on the 

 strength of this fact alone, to the list of British birds. 



During its autumn migration this bird is said to travel to 

 Patagonia ; and there is certainly no doubt as to its advancing 

 far into South America, for countless flocks every autumn per- 

 form the singular and unexampled journey from Labrador to 

 Guiana and North Brazil, traversing in one unbroken flight a 

 continuous surface of ocean varying in extent from two thousand 

 seven hundred and sixty to three thousand two hundred and forty 

 miles. Nor indeed have they exhausted their flying powers to the 

 utmost in the execution of this feat, for though some divisions of 

 the broad migi-ation column of these birds travel via the Bermudas 

 and Lesser Antilles, very few interrupt their flight on either of these 

 island groups, unless compelled by stress of weather (J. M. Jones, 

 The Naturalist in Bermuda). According to the reports of the 

 same observer, ships on their way to England have met with 

 migratory hosts of this Plover from five to six hundred miles east 

 of Bermuda, companies numbering from thirty, fifty, up to several 

 thousands, having been observed passing overhead for two days 

 and two nights. In one case the birds were travelling in a south- 

 easterly direction, and in the other direct south. Assuming that 

 they had started from Labrador ai" eastern Canada, those pursuing 

 the former course woidd strike upon the first land on the north 

 coast of Brazil : this means that they have performed in one unin- 

 terrupted flight a distance of about three thousand two hundred 

 and forty miles — i.e. about as far as from Heligoland to Lake 

 Baikal! Again, the flocks following the southern line of flight 

 would, by this course, land on the coast of eastern Guiana, which, 

 in their case, still means an uninterrupted flight of two tiiousand 

 seven hundred and sixty miles. 



Granting that a bird is able to fly for fifteen hours without 



' Leadenhall Market (Yarrell, Brit. Birds, iii, 276). 



