MIGRATION OF PACIFIC PLOVER HENSHAW. 555 



marks behind, but also all ports of refuge. The Hawaiian Archi- 

 pelago, with the chain of low islands and sand spits to the north- 

 west, afford a reasonable chance for a successful landfall, since 

 unitedly they stretch away in a very thin line for some 2,200 miles. 

 Moreover, the islands are close enough together so that migrants 

 high in air would not be likely to miss them by passing between. 

 Flocks that chance to get to the eastward of Hawaii, however, are 

 probably doomed, since they would have to fly another 1,000 miles or 

 so before finding islets on which to rest. The Marquesas Group, the 

 first islands of size to the south of Hawaii, is about 2,000 miles away, 

 or about 4,000 miles from the Aleutians, and it is more than doubtful 

 if even the strong-winged plover could fly 4,000 miles without rest 

 and food and survive the trip. That many of the migrating shore 

 birds actually perish at sea admits of no doubt. 



In this connection it is of interest to note that in a few instances in 

 which island migrants have been sighted when near their journey's 

 end, going or coming, they exhibited fatigue and evinced a strong 

 desire to board passing vessels. The incident noted by Dr. Mearns 

 has been cited. Other instances were reported to me by the captains 

 of two island-bound barks, who sighted several small flocks of plover 

 during the last days of September, 1900, when from 200 to 400 miles 

 off Hilo. These birds appeared much fatigued and exhibited a strong 

 desire to board the ships, especially when their calls were imitated. 



E. W. Nelson, however, while on the Corwin, October, 1881, saw a 

 small party of plover about midway between the Alaska Peninsula 

 and the Hawaiian Islands. These birds were headed directly for the 

 islands, and they flew swiftly on their course, showing no signs either 

 of uncertainty or of fatigue. Other similar cases might be cited. 



Molts of the Pacific golden plover. — It is of interest to note that in 

 fall this plover migrates before it molts; in spring it molts before it 

 migrates. The first birds to reach the archipelago in August are, as 

 stated, adults, and while they are practically in full breeding dress, 

 they begin to molt into the winter dress almost at once. The molting 

 season for the species is long, and many individuals, doubtless birds 

 of the year, may be found the last of December still molting into the 

 fall and winter dress. By the middle of February numerous indi- 

 viduals are already beginning to molt a second time and to assume the 

 distinctive nuptial plumage, which in the case of these early birds is 

 practically completed during the month of March, though individ- 

 uals continue to molt far into April, and some no doubt complete the 

 final stages in Alaska. 1 Doubtless the individuals to molt first in 

 spring are the adults which arrive first and finish the fall molt first ; 

 and doubtless, too, these are the birds first to leave Hawaii for their 



1 1 have several specimens taken in March and April, which were kindly sent me by 

 my friends Mr. Henry Patten and Mr. W. B. Newell, of Hilo. These are in spring 

 plumage, but show unmistakable signs of molting. 



