﻿458 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. loo 



trations of up to 100 birds were occasionally met with in the vicinity 

 of the larger ponds. It was recorded during each month of the year. 



Breeding activity was carried on throughout Alay, June, and July. 

 Particularly during the latter two months flightless young could be 

 found with relative ease. During the three months the birds were ob- 

 served in display. Often they would fly over the spot where the dis- 

 play was to take place, using a peculiar, undulant flight and uttering a 

 continuous high keee-keee-keee-keee-keee note, which would rise and fall 

 slightly in pitch. They would then land in a small group and face one 

 another, standing stiffly upright with the wings spread-eagle. The 

 wings would then be closed, and the birds, m pairs, would march to 

 and fro, still in a stiffly erect position with the black breast very much 

 in evidence. They would subsequently go into a crouching position, 

 in which the far wing would be raised, showing the markings, while the 

 near wing was dropped. Often they would return to the erect spread- 

 eagle position, and occasionally while in this position they would enter 

 into a mock battle, striking at one another with their wings. During 

 practically the whole performance the excited caUing was continued. 



In common with many other birds, this plover often feigned being 

 wounded when the nest or the young were approached. 



Local name, "alcaravdn." 



PLUVIALIS DOMINICA DOMINICA (P. L. S. MuUer) 



Charadrius Dominicus P. L. S. Muller, Natursystem, Suppl., 1776, p. 116 

 (Hispaniola). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 c? (?), Cantaura, October 12, 1947; gonads very small; iris brown. 



The specimen is in molt from summer into winter plumage, thus 

 substantiating the statements in the literature that the molt takes 

 place (except for the remiges and rectrices) during migration. 



The golden plover was quite common on the savanna ponds during 

 October and November, generally in flocks of 10 to 40 individuals. 

 At the peak of the migration it was possible to count 200 birds in a 

 day. The bird was equally common both near Cantaura and near 

 Caicara. Those examined were invariably extremely fat. 



Local name, "tinguln." 



CHARADRIUS fflATICULA SEMIPALMATUS Bonaparte 



Charadrius semipalmaius Bonaparte, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 5, 

 1825, p. 98 (coast of New Jersey). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 9, Caicara, September 12, 1948; gonads small; iris brown, bill very dark 

 brown with the basal portions of the maxilla and the lower portion of the mandible 

 dull yellow, feet dull yellow-brown; plumage worn. 



