VoL S XVI ] Erichsen, Birds of Liberty County, Ga. 385 



These birds evidently have not learned of the danger from unusually 

 high spring tides, as when these occur, many of their nests which are 

 placed out of reach of normal tides, are destroyed. 



7. Catoptrophorus s. semipalmatus. Willet. — The Willet breeds 

 in much the same situations as the Wilson's Plover, except that perhaps 

 the former shows a more decided preference for the high grassy stretches 

 well back from the beach. A few grass stems are laid in a depression 

 made by the birds, usually at the base of a bunch of grass or weeds. Often- 

 times no material is used, the eggs being deposited in a bare hole scooped 

 out by the birds. 



Two nests were located by me on July 19 among high grass well back 

 from the beach on St. Catherine's island. Both held four eggs. Incu- 

 bation was evidently advanced at this late date. 



Willets show much concern when their breeding grounds are invaded, 

 flying overhead and emitting shrill cries until the intruder has withdrawn. 



8. Ochthodromus wilsonius. Wilson's Plover. — The Wilson's 

 Plover is a characteristic bird of the beaches and mud flats and is abundant 

 on St. Catherine's island. The birds appear to prefer as nesting sites, 

 isolated beaches bordering on sounds and inlets where there are numerous 

 tussocks of grass and an abundance of small shells among which they 

 lay their eggs. Three eggs are laid in a hole scooped out in the sand, usu- 

 ally among short beach grass and on slight elevations formed by drifting 

 sand. Although the birds breed abundantly on the island, my visit there 

 was made on July 19 near the end of the breeding season, and I located 

 but two sets of eggs. 



9. Chsemepelia passerina terrestris. Ground Dove. — The 

 Ground Dove is locally distributed in the county, and but two nests came 

 under my observation. On May 1 I located a nest containing two fresh 

 eggs, and on May 13 a second nest was found which also contained two 

 eggs. The former was situated three feet up in a scrub oak, while the nest 

 found May 13 was nine feet from the ground on a horizontal limb of a 

 large pine and some distance from the trunk of the tree. Both nests were 

 composed merely of a few twigs and dead pine needles, almost falling apart 

 at the touch. 



The Ground Dove shows a decided preference for scrubby pastures, 

 and woodland where there is much undergrowth, and, like the Bob-white, 

 does not wander far from the locality in which it was hatched. Many 

 Ground Doves nest on the ground, and use even less material in such cases 

 than when placed in trees or bushes. 



I have been informed that eggs of this bird have been collected outside 

 but near Liberty county in every month from March to October inclusive, 

 a remarkably long nesting period. 



10. Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus. Bald Eagle. — On 

 January 9 I flushed a Bald Eagle from a nest on St. Catherine's island, 

 but was unable to ascertain its contents. It was built in a large short leaf 

 pine, approximately eighty-five feet from the ground, and was of massive 



