2 CHAEADEIID.E. 



With reference to the American Golden Plover, the late Dr. Brewer 



writes * : — " Mr. MacFarlane's Arctic Notes are very full in reference to the 



nesting and breeding habits of this species. The number of eggs was almost 



invariably four, but in one instance five were said to have been found. Out of 



one hundred and fourteen recorded nests, ninety-two contained four eggs. In 



one instance only one egg, nearly ready to hatch, was found. The nests were 



noticed throughout the Barren Grounds, from the time of the party's leaving the 



woods quite up to that of their arrival on the Arctic Ocean. The nests were in 



all instances mere depressions in the soil, generally lined with a few dry leaves, 



and were difficult to find, as there was nothing to distinguish them from the soil — 



which the eggs very closely resemble in color — and as the female glides from her 



nest, if approached, even when the intruders are still at a distance. She runs a 



certain distance, and if she succeeds in enticing the party away, will then take to 



flight. In a few instances, when the bird was surprised by a near approach 



before she left, she pretended lameness, and fluttered at their feet. The eggs were 



found in June, and some even as late as July, and quite fresh. "When the ground 



was covered with newly-fallen snow the nests were more readily recognized. 



When approached the female usually left her position at a quick pace — between 



a run and a walk — and in no case was she known to fly up directly from her eggs. 



In one instance, where the presence of a nest was suspected, but the exact 



locality of which they were not able to discover, the party withdrew to a 



distance and watched, when the female, after resorting to various manoeuvres to 



hide the place, at last revealed it by finally settling down uj^on her eggs. The 



eggs of this species have a ground of various shades of drab, diff"ering in several 



specimens, and varying from a light greenish drab to a very deep shade, unmixed 



with any other color. Others have a ground of a pale rufous-drab. All 



are marked with blotches of a deep umber, approaching to blackness. These 



markings are smaller and more scattered around the pointed end ; but are larger 



and become confluent, >\ith intensified spots, around the obtuse apex. Their 



average length is about 1'91 inches, and their average breadth I'Sl inches. Their 



maximum length is 2 inches, their minimum 1-84 ; their breadth varies from 1-25 



to I"35 inches " 



Mr. E. W. Nelson gives the following account of the breeding habits of this 

 bird, which he met with during his stay in Alaska from 1877 to 1881 f : — " About 



* 'Water Birds of Korlli America,' vol. i. pp. 143, 144. 



t 'Eeport upon Natural History Collections made in Alas^ka between the years 1877 and 1S81, 

 pp. 123, 124. 



