UPLAND PLOVEK 65 



sought for by market hunters than it is here. Mr. Hudson (1920) 

 writes : 



This species differs from its fellow-migrants of the same family from the 

 north to Argentina in its wide and even distribution over all that portion of the 

 pampas where the native coarse grasses which once covered the country have 

 disappeared, an area comprising not less than 50,000 square miles. It begins 

 to arrive as early as September, coming singly or in small parties of three or 

 four ; and, extraordinary as the fact may seem when we consider the long dis- 

 tance the bird travels, and the monotonous nature of the level country it uses 

 as a " feeding area," it is probable that every bird returns to the same spot 

 year after year ; for in no other way could such a distribution be maintained, 

 and the birds appear every summer evenly sprinkled over so immense a surface. 



Doctor Wetmore (1926) says: 



Formerly abundant, the upland plover is now rare in the region where it 

 spends the period of northern winter. Its winter range on the open pampa 

 is a region so vast that it is difficult to form a proper estimate of the actual 

 number of individuals of the species that remain. Among epicures the species 

 has inherited in part the name and reputation of the Eskimo curlew and is 

 sought constantly by gunners to supply that demand. The few that survive 

 frequent remote regions on some of the large estancias where they are secure 

 until they leave their seclusion and begin their return flight northward. The 

 majority of those that I noted were identified by their liquid calls, heard, as 

 is the case in Washington, as they passed at night. 



He says again (1927) : 



In the season of 1919-20 the upland plover was reported to have increased 

 somewhat in abundance at Rosas in the Province of Buenos Aires, a circum- 

 stance due perhaps to protection in the United States and Canada. It can 

 hardly be expected to regain anywhere near its former abundance, however, 

 with increasing encroachment on its winter and summer ranges. Unfortunately, 

 in Argentina it has replaced the Eskimo curlew as a table delicacy, and is so 

 eagerly sought by gunners that its preservation in settled regions is doubtful. 

 Those that remain must seek the pastures of remote estancias in order to 

 survive. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — North and South America; accidental in Europe. 



Breeding range. — The breeding range of the upland plover ex- 

 tends north to Alaska (Kobuk Kiver and Gens de Large Mountains) ; 

 southern Mackenzie (probably Fort Smith) ; Saskatchewan (Prince 

 Albert, Quill Lake, and Crescent Lake) ; Manitoba (Shoal Lake and 

 Winnipeg) ; Minnesota (Clarissa, St. Cloud, Minneapolis, and Lake 

 City) ; Wisconsin (Kingston and Kelley Brook) ; Michigan (Lovells 

 and Zion City) ; Ontario (probably Plover Mills, Dunnville, and 

 Kingston) ; northern New York (Canton and Potsdam) ; southern 

 Quebec (Hatley) ; and Maine (Farraington, Plymouth, Orono, and 

 Calais).. East to Maine (Calais); Massachusetts (Salem, Marthas 

 Vineyard, and Nantucket) ; probably Connecticut (South Windsor) ; 



