THE BEETLEHEAD PLOVER 71 



and stocky head and neck, and not in the slur- 

 ring manner in which these names are com- 

 monly used. But whatever the name he is one 

 that commands the hearty admiration of the 

 sportsman, and well may the Beetlehead be 

 appreciated, both in the lonely places where he 

 dwells and at the table, for he is one of the 

 finest of our shorebirds in the qualities which 

 the marsh gunner prizes, as well as a sweet 

 morsel for the epicure. 



They are principally seen on our shores dur- 

 ing the migrations, coming in large flocks dur- 

 ing the latter part of April and the first of 

 May, northward bound to their breeding 

 grounds, returning in smaller bunches from 

 August through September and the first half 

 of October, going as far south for winter quar- 

 ters as the West Indies and sometimes even to 

 Brazil. Their migratory flights mainly take 

 place at night, the birds resting and feeding 

 during the day. 



During the spring flights they are for a short 

 time abundant on our coasts. Caring little for 

 the muddy flats and even less for the marsh- 

 lands, they feed along the rocky shores and 

 bare sea beaches, dashing in upon each re- 



