MOUNTAIN PLOVER 267 



We have often foretold a hailstorm, which are very prevalent here in summer, 

 by the.se birds coming near the house for protection ; at these times they seem 

 bewildered, and nothing will drive them away. 



Voice. — Coues (1874) says on this subject: 



Their notes are rather peculiar, as compared with those of our other plovers, 

 and vai-y a good deal, according to circumstances. When the birds are feeding 

 at their leisure, and in no way apprehensive of danger, they utter a low and 

 rather pleasing whistle, though in a somewhat drawling or rather lisping tone ; 

 but the note changes to a louder and higher one, sometimes sounding harshly. 



Field marks. — The mountain plover may be recognized as a medium 

 sized plover, dressed in plain colors. In the spring the black mark- 

 ings on the head are visible at short range, but otherwise it is dull, 

 sandy brown above and white below, without the conspicuous mark- 

 ings of the killdeer. In flight its axillars and the under sides of 

 its wings are conspicuously white. 



Game. — This species once figured as a game bird and many were 

 shot and sold as game in the California markets. It was a fair- 

 sized bird of some food value, but it was not so highly prized, as a 

 table bird, when compared with some others. John G. Tyler (1916) 

 writes : 



Had not the Federal law intervened these birds would soon have disappeared 

 forever, as their habits made them a very easy victim for hunters. The birds 

 feed in loose scattered flocks, ranging over much ground, but when sufficiently 

 disturbed all the members of a company take wing and form into a dense 

 flock which, after beating rapidly back and forth for a few moments, usually 

 settles again within a few yards of the intruder, a full hundred birds often 

 occupying a space no larger than 20 feet in diameter. As they alight each bird 

 flattens itself upon the ground where its protective coloration renders it all but 

 invisible save for the winking of its very large eyes. 



As one old resident stated, a favorite method of hunting was to drive with 

 a horse and buggy among the scattered birds and cause them to take wing, 

 whereupon the horse was brought to a standstill until the birds had again settled 

 on the ground, and in nearly every case this was within easy gun range. The 

 hunter immediately " ground sluiced " them with one barrel just as they 

 " squatted " and fired again as the survivors took wing. INIy infoi-mant stated 

 that he once killed 65 birds with two shots, and this method very rarely netted 

 less than 30. I was informed that this plover was rated as the best table bird in 

 this part of the State and that parties sometimes came from points as far away 

 as San Francisco to hunt them. Verily, as my friend remarked, " they don't 

 seem to be as plentiful as they were 25 years ago." 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — Western United States and Mexico ; accidental in Florida 

 and Massachusetts. 



Breeding range. — The mountain plover breeds north to Montana 

 (Great Falls, Fort Benton, Big Sandy, and the mouth of Milk 

 River); and North Dakota (Stump Lake). East to North Dakota 



