358 BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



rapid, but they generally alight at no great distance from the 

 spot whence they started. When they return to us in autumn, 

 from the northern regions, they are in good order for eating, 

 and their flesh is much esteemed. 



The Black necked Hilt, Himantopus nigricollis, if known 

 at all in Massachusetts, appears only as an accidental visiter. 

 Dr. Brewer tells me that a bird somewhat answering to the 

 description of this has been seen occasionally near New Bed- 

 ford, but he has never obtained a specimen. 



The American Oyster-catcher, Hcematopus palliatus, is 

 found along our whole Atlantic coast, but more rarely in New 

 England than in other parts of the country. It spends the 

 winter in the south, and returns to the north in spring. Its 

 breeding places extend from the middle states to Labrador, 

 where it was found breeding in July. Dr. Brewer informs me 

 that he has once found this bird in Massachusetts. We learn 

 from Audubon, that he has never found the Htxmatopus ostra- 

 legus, described by Wilson, in any part of this country, and, 

 though he does not say it is not to be found, it is more likely 

 that this species has been mistaken for it, than that it should 

 have escaped his searching observation. This bird is exceed- 

 ingly difficult to approach, flying off the moment it perceives 

 that any one is watching it ; so that it was only with a teles- 

 cope that he could observe its motions, as it probed the sand 

 with it bill, tore off the limpets by inserting its bill as a wedge 

 between the fish and the rock, or beat a shell-fish against the 

 sand, for the purpose of breaking the shell. These birds return 

 to the south early in October. 



The Golden Plover, charadrius pluvialis, is a common 

 bird on our coast in spring and autumn, when they return from 

 their breeding places in the north, and prolong their stay, till 

 they are driven away by the approach of winter. They live 

 principally on such insects as are found in the vicinity of the 

 sea ; they are sometimes seen patting the earth with their feet, 



