212 THE BIRDS ABOUT Us. 



arctic circle, and return southward in August, when 

 they are objects of much interest to the sportsman. 

 The first named keep principally along the sea-coast, 

 and are rare in the far West. Occasionally they ap- 

 pear in fields in our river valleys, and then may be 

 readily mistaken for the Golden Plover, as their move- 

 ments and flight are quite alike. Its voice, however, is 

 more shrill and chattering than that of the other large 

 plover, which, known generally as the " Bull-head," 

 appears pretty regularly in the Middle States about 

 September i, and remains for three or four weeks. 

 Occasionally a large flock will settle in a field and 

 remain for several days, or until the gunners find 

 them out, which usually is soon after their arrival, for 

 their whistle is only too well known, and they have 

 not learned the wisdom of keeping quiet. When 

 feeding they appear to have sentinels posted about, 

 for the alarm-cry is sure to be heard as you approach, 

 and it requires a great deal of patience to get within 

 gunshot, that is, when these birds have come inland. 

 On the immediate sea-coast they are watchful, but 

 not as difficult to approach. 



The Semi-palmated Plover is a smaller, strictly 

 migratory form that nests north of the United States. 



There are found in the Middle States in summer, 

 especially on the sea-coast, and at times along our 

 rivers, two beautiful little plovers, known as the 

 " Piping" and " Wilson's." The former reaches us 

 about April, and in flocks of a few individuals run 

 about the sand on the sea-shore in a most lively 

 manner and utter a variety of cries that are all more 

 or less pleasing, blending as they do with the roar 



