BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 317 



County, Mass., in summer (Nuttall, 1834). Common on 

 sea-coasts but not confined to them; extends into the country 

 (Peabody, Massachusetts, 1839). About middle of x\ugust 

 very plentiful on Shinnecock Hills (Long Island) and Mon- 

 tauk; common in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New 

 Jersey, (Giraud, 1844). Breeds from Maryland north; in 

 July and August appears in large flocks on its way south ; much 

 esteemed game bird (De Kay, New York, 1844). Quite com- 

 mon in western part of State (Zadock Thompson, Vermont, 

 1853). Not uncommon summer resident; common in migra- 

 tion (Maynard, eastern Massachusetts, 1870). Not abundant 

 as summer resident, breeds sparingly in all New England 

 States (Samuels, 1870). Common summer resident (J. A. 

 Allen, Massachusetts, 1879). Moves in large flocks, and as it 

 breeds through the country may be met with from Canada to 

 the southern States; considered one of the best game birds; 

 eagerly sought by all lovers of the gun (Murphy, 1882). Abun- 

 dant spring and fall (Stearns and Coues, New England, 1888). 

 Still abundant in New England; some breed here (Chamber- 

 lain, 1891). Not as abundant in eastern Pennsylvania and 

 New Jersey as in Wilson's day (Abbott, 1895). Now occurring 

 chiefly as uncommon migrant (Howe and Allen, Massachusetts, 

 1901). Was formerly abundant in New England, on Long- 

 Island and through the country west to the Rocky Mountains 

 (Huntington, 1903). W^ithin my recollection nested plenti- 

 fully in Worcester County, Mass., and southern Maine and 

 New Hampshire; few localities in New England where one 

 can be sure of finding the birds now (Brewster, 1906). Tran- 

 sient, not common; breeding very rarely; formerly common 

 migrant and summer resident (Stone, New Jersey, 1908). 

 Rare spring and inicomnion fall migrant; rare local summer 

 resident (G. M. Allen, Massachusetts, 1909). Six of my Mas- 

 sachusetts correspondents report an increase of this bird in 

 their localities, while seventy-six report a decrease. 



About 1880, when the supply of Passenger Pigeons began to 

 fail, and the marketmen, looking about for some other game 

 for the table of the epicure in spring and summer, called for 

 Plover, the destruction of the I'^pland Plover began in earnest. 



