292 Prof. S. F. Baird on the Distribution and 



ghore-line of the United States, and its influence extending only 

 a short distance from the coast, and not involving the vicinity 

 of Europe at all. That such storms do affect the movements of 

 our birds is shown in the case of the Golden Plover. It is well 

 known that this species breeds in immense numbers in the 

 northern regions of America, and that the southward migration 

 in summer and autumn, is principally confined to the region 

 along or near the Atlantic coast. Generally, large flights would 

 seem to start directly from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia for 

 the West Indies, where they are met with every autumn passing 

 still southward into South America, and reaching almost to 

 Patagonia. Usually it is but a comparatively small number 

 that touch and rest along the Atlantic states ; but it is well 

 known to the sportsmen of New England that, should a violent 

 north-east storm occur off" the coast toward the end of August, 

 unusual flights of Plover and Curlew may be looked for*. This 

 was the case in 1863, when the islands of Nantucket, Martha's 

 Vineyard, and other localities along the coast of Massachusetts, 

 swarmed with incredible flights of these birds. On similar 

 occasions immense numbers have been carried far into the 

 interior of the Atlantic states, furnishing the occasion of a 

 regular carnival for gunners, much as in the case of great flights 

 of the Wild Pigeon. 



Another instance of the influence of north-east storms is in 

 the occurrence of the Stormy Petrel (Mother Carey's Chickens), 

 and other oceanic birds far in the interior, and even across the 

 AUeghanies, during and after such storms. The collections of 

 the Smithsonian Institution embrace specimens of Thalassidroma 

 leachi killed about Washington in August, 1842, with hundreds 

 of others. I myself obtained at Hari-isburgh, Penn., a tine adult 

 Pomerine Jager, Catarhades pomarinus, killed on the Susque- 

 hanna, near that city, in September 1839. Adults of the 

 species mentioned are rarely seen within the limits of the United 

 States at all ; and in summer the latter would hardly be likely to 

 occur south of Newfoundland. 



* Mr. G. N. Lawrence mentions (Ann. Lyceum N. Y. viii. 1864, p. 100) 

 that the Goklen Plover is always found at Montauk Point on the 28th of 

 August, should a north-east storm occur. 



