146 



BiKDS OF lioRTH CAROLINA 



Remarks. — Immature birds are sometimes confused with those of the Black-bellied Plover, 

 but, aside from differences of size and color, the absence of the fourth toe in the present species 

 will always distinguish it. (Chap., liinl.i of E. iV. A.) 



Range. — Breeds in the Arctic regions; winters in southern South America. 



Range in North Carolina. — Rare migrant, chiefly in fall. 



Fig. 108. GoLUES I'i.uvkk. 



Pio. 109. Foot of 

 Golden Plover. 



A very rare bird with us. In 1871 Coues reported it as a common migrant in 

 October, at Fort Macon. Cairns recorded it as a rare migrant in Buncombe County 

 fifteen years ago, and one was talcen at llaleigh, by W. S. Primrose, in 18S4. 



McAtee took specimens on September 7 and 23, 1909, and on April 18 and August 

 30, 1910, on Currituck beach, ojiposite Church's Island. 



"Most birds appear to return to llieir summer homes over much the same route liy wliich 

 they left tliem. There are, however, a few marked exceptions to this lule. Among our lanil-liirds, 

 the Connecticut Warbler enters the I'nited States tlirougli Florida and journeys thence northwest- 

 ward along the .Mleglianics, and west to Missouri, to the Upper Mi.ssissippi \'alley and iSlanitoba. 

 At this season it is unknown on the Atlantic coast north of Florida, but during its return migra- 

 tion, in September and Octolier, it. is often not uncommon from Mas.s;ieluusetts southwaid, and, 

 at this s(!ason, is rare or unknown in the Mississippi Valley .soutli of Cliicago. (Sec Cooke, '01.) 



"Among our water-birds, cases of this kin<l are inf)re frequent. The fall migration often lirings 

 to the Atlantic Coast species whicli are rarely if ever seen there in the spring. The Black Tern, 

 for example, occurs near New York City in numbers, from August to October, but is not found 

 there in the spring. 



"The Ciolden Plover, as has been shown by Cooke ('93), after breeding in June on the .sliores 

 of the Arctic Ocean, in August migrates soutlieastward to Labrador, where it feeds on the crow- 

 berry (Empdruin), laying on a supply of fat as fuel for the remarkable voyage which follows. 

 From Labrador tlie birds fly south to Nova Scotia and thence lay tiieir course for nortliern South 

 America in a direct hne across the .Atlantic. 



"Under favorable conditions they may pass the Bermudas without stopping, but should they 

 cncoiuitcr storms they rest in these islantls and are also driven to our coast. Their first stop 

 may be made in the Lesser .Antilles, through or over which they proceed to South America, en 

 route to their winter quarters in southwestern Brazil and the La Plata region. 



"In returning to their Arctic home these Plover pass northward through Central .Vmerica and 

 the Mississippi Valley, the main line of theii- fall and spring routes, therefore, being separated by 

 as much as 1,500 miles. 



"The explanations advanced to account for the gradual development of migration routes, over 

 whicli birds in the fall retrare the path folliiwed in tlie spring, are inadequate to account for the 

 origin of tlies(- iilienoinenal journeys, on which the pioneer voyagers nuist ajiparcntly have em- 

 barked unguided l)y either inherited or acquired experience. Nor do we understand how birds 

 have learned to cross regularly over bodies of water, hundreds or even thousands of miles in 

 width. 



