AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, 



Chaeadriid^.] 



CHARADRIUS DOMINICUS, Mullee. 



Explanation of Plate. 



Figure 1. Anderson River, British N. America, July 10, 1862; R. McFarlane coll. 

 No. 7647 U.S. National Museum Collection. 

 „ 2. Point Barrow, Alaska, June 28, 1883 ; native collector (Lieut. Ray Expedition). 

 No. 18942 U.S. National Museum Collection. 

 3. Point Barrow, Alaska, July 3, 1883; M. Smith coll. (Lieut. Ray Expedition). 

 No. 18952 U.S. National Museum Collection. 

 ,; 4. Point Barrow, Alaska, June 23, 1882; M. Smith coll. (Lieut. Ray Expedition) . 

 No. 18684 U.S. National Museum Collection. 



There appear to have been only two occurrences of this American species in 

 the British Islands, an example having been found in Leadenhall Market in 

 1882, and another being recorded as having occurred in Perthshire in 1883. 



Referring to this species, Dr. Coues says * : — " The Golden Plover breeds 

 only far northward, and is not ordinarily seen in the United States in the 

 advanced breeding plumage above noted. It appears to have no special lines of 

 migration, but passes over the country at large, sometimes in vast flocks, its 

 autumnal progress being more leisurely than its advance in the spring. It reaches 

 its breeding grounds late in May — the Barren Grounds of British America, and the 

 coasts and islands of the Arctic Ocean. It is found throughout Alaska, according 

 to Mr. Dall, and is common all along the Yukon. The same writer states that 

 the nests are made in a hillock of grass, of the same material, and frequently a 

 few feathers, the eggs being generally only two in number ; this, however, is not 

 the rule, the eggs being, as usual in this family, oftenest four in number. They are 

 of the ordinary pyriform shape, pointed at one end and very obtuse at the other. 

 The following measurements may indicate extremes of variation in shape — 

 2-00 by 1-35; I'SO by 1-40." 



* ' Birds of the Xorth-TVest,' p. 451. 



