36 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA 



53. NUMENIUS AMERICANUS (Bechstein). 

 Long-billed Curlew. 



The only mention of this species in Dr. Avery's notes 

 follows : 



"Sept. 21, 1892. Numeniiis longirostris, Long-billed 

 curlew, seen on Dauphin Island." 



54. SQUATAROLA SQUATAROLA (Linn^us). 

 Black-bellied Plover. 



"Some specimens were obtained several years ago at 

 Cocke's Millpond. None seen since that time." (1890d.) 



55. OXYECHUS VOCIFERUS (Linn^us). 

 Killdeer. 



"The killdeer is a common bird in Alabama. It resides 

 here during the whole year, and is the only one of the 

 plover family, bo iar as I know, which builds its nest, or 

 I should say — for it lays on the bare ground — rears its 

 young in this vicinity. It lays several eggs on the ground. 

 The young are what ornithologists call 'precoces,' or 

 precocious, that is, running about like little chickens as 

 soon as hatched. It goes in large bands sometimes in 

 the winter ; and may be found in low muddy places or 

 upon old commons or bare fields." (Original notes. June 

 7, 1876). The stomach of a specimen taken on the day 

 of this entry was reported to contain insects. 



"Resident. Common. Breeds. A favorite nesting 

 site of this species is on the 'bed' of a cotton or corn row, 

 where it remains undisturbed by the laborer, save to 

 frighten it off the nest once or twice while it is incu- 

 bating, as he works his growing crop." (1890d), 



No. 238. Female. Greensboro. Oct. 5, 1889. W. C. Avery. 

 No. 827. Male. Greensboro. May 2, 1891. W. C. Avery. 

 No. 828. Male. Greensboro. May 2, 1891. W. C. Avery. 



56. COLINUS VIRGINIANUS VIRGINIANUS (Linn«us). 



Bob-White. 



"Quail." "Partridge." 



"On reading the experience of M. E. Allison with a Bob 

 White I was reminded of an instance of a similar nature 

 of the devotion of a male Bob White to his family duties. 



