60 Contributions from the Charleston Museum. 



great that it is difficult to understand what becomes of all of them 

 in the struggle for existence while en route to the Arctic regions. 

 It is certain that the vast armies of these birds do not return in 

 July and August in the same numerical strength, but during the 

 following migration in May they are as abundant as ever. The 

 Semipalmated Plover is a bird of the tidal flats and feeds 

 as soon as the banks are uncovered, but resorts to the fields 

 and beaches at high water. 



In winter, this species is found as far south as Brazil, but it 

 breeds only in the Arctic and sub- Arctic regions. 



121. /Egialitis meloda (Ord) . Piping Plover. 



Audubon states ^ that this plover ' ' breeds on all parts of the 

 eastern coast of the United States," and that "great num- 

 bers spend the winter from South Carolina to the mouths of the 

 Mississippi." This species does not breed on the coast of South 

 Carolina, being simply a transient visitant. It does not winter 

 in ' ' great numbers; ' ' in fact I have seen but one during the winter 

 months. That was on February 4, 1889, and I may have been 

 mistaken then as this species very closely resembles the Sanderling 

 (Calidris leiicophcea) . The birds arrive during the second week 

 in March, in winter plumage, and at once commence to moult the 

 feathei'sof the head and breast, assuming their summer plumage 

 by April 10. A few individuals remain until May 15, and they 

 are not to be seen again until August 2, when they remain until 

 about October 16. 



This beautiful species is a beach bird and is to be seen only 

 along the ocean front. I have yet to see one of these birds alight 

 on a mud bank , and they are at all times the very shyest of all waders, 

 so that it is next to impossible to get within range after they 

 have once been shot at. On April 25, 1903, I followed a small 

 flock of these birds for more than fifteen miles, but I was unable 

 to get nearer than two hundred yards, while at times I could not 

 approach within a quarter of a mile. The Piping Plover is a 

 very uncommon species, in fact rare, and I have never seen more 

 than five or six in a flock. 



This species breeds from Virginia to Newfoundland. 



122. Ochthodromus wilsonius (Ord) . Wilson's Plover. 



Wilson's Plover generally arrives late in March — my earliest 

 date being March 26, 1886— and remains until September 22, or 

 perhaps until October. 



» Birds of America, V, 223-225. 



