Shore-bird Shooting 479 



tory and western Kansas north to the Canadian boundary in 

 central Montana, and probably west to Utah and south into 

 Mexico. Winters from western Texas to central Mexico and 

 from the interior of central California into Lower California. 

 Accidental in Florida. 



Fond of the plains, this species is common on 

 the table-lands of the Rocky Mountains and in 

 the southwestern deserts of the United States, 

 breeding in these locations. The birds are gentle, 

 and when approached run out of harm's way 

 rather than fly. They may stand perfectly mo- 

 tionless, trusting in the resemblance of their 

 plumage to the surroundings to protect them. 

 The flight is low down, the plover sailing on 

 curved wings, and running for a few steps after it 

 has alighted. The nest is placed on the ground 

 and contains three eggs. After the young are 

 fledged, in July, this species collect in small flocks, 

 keeping mostly to the prairie and barren plains, 

 feeding on various insects, grasshoppers, and 

 crickets, from which diet they become fat and 

 excellent. With the frosts and cold weather the 

 birds pass to the south, keeping pretty much to 

 the high, dry mesa. In May, 1901, I saw a pair 

 of mountain plover in one of these locations in 

 northern Mexico, where they were evidently nest- 

 ing. They ran ahead of the horses a few feet, then 

 turned to one side and stood still as we passed. 

 Rarely this species has been taken in Florida, and 

 occasionally resorts to the plains close to the coast. 



