1^2 Mackay 071 the Black-bellied Plover. [April 



1868, Maj 23. —First birds shot; numerous from the 27th to 30th, last- 

 ing until June 6. 



1869, May 27. — First birds shot; birds very scarce. A few birds in 

 August. 



1870, — Law prohibiting spring shooting. 



1S71, May 17. — First birds shot, the earliest date I have ever shot 

 these birds; abundant until June 5. Law prohibiting spring shooting 

 repealed. Qi^iite a number of birds in vVugiist. 



1872, May 25. — First birds shot; continuous good shooting until 

 June 8. 



1873, May 19. — First birds shot; most numerous on 31st; last birds 

 shot June 7. 



1874, May 17. — First birds shot; best shooting May 29; no birds in 

 June. 



1875, Mav 14. —First birds shot; best shooting on 29th ; last birds shot 

 June 5. Sept. 24 shot six on Muskeget Island. Oct. i, shot 24 young 

 birds. Last bird killed on Cape Cod Oct. 20. Nov. 5, shot one on 

 Nantucket Island. 



1876, May 20.^ First birds shot; best shooting on the 26th. Very few 

 birds in June. From Oct. 5 to 21 shot a good many young birds. 



1877, May 20. — First birds shot; best shooting May 28; birds about 

 all gone June i. Aug. 25 shot one bird on Nantucket Island; Sept. 26, 

 shot three, Nantucket Island. 



1878, Oct. 14. — Shot one, Nantucket. 



1879, Aug. 28. — Shot six on Nantucket Island. 



1880, Sept. II. — Shot one, Nantucket. 



1881, Aug. II. — Saw seven, Nantucket. 



1882, September 21. — Shot one, Nantucket; Sept. 27, shot one. 

 1S84, Aug. 25. — -Shot six, Nantucket. 



1886, Sept. I and 5. — Shot one on each date, Nantucket. 

 18SS, Aug. 19. — Shot one, Nantucket. 



1889, Sept. 22. — Shot one, Nantucket. 



1890, May. — More birds than for many years, in neighborhood of 

 Tuckernuck Island. June 3, saw a flock of eighteen on Nantucket 

 Island. 



1891, May 27. — -Shot four old birds on Nantucket; heard of several flocks 

 seen. Jnly iS, one bird seen, Essex, Mass., flying from the east. Aug. 

 16, saw four; shot one whose breast was nearly all black. Sept. 12, saw 

 two birds ; Sept. 13, saw one, Nantucket. Sept. 26, saw two young birds, 

 Nantucket. Sept. 29, saw one young bird, Nantucket. 



