HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



361 



GOLDEN PLOVER. 



They arrive on the coast of the Middle and Northern 

 States in spring and early autumn. Near to Nantas- 

 ket and Chelsea beach, they are seen, on their return 

 from their inclement natal regions in the north, by the 

 close of August, and the young remain in the vicinity 

 till the middle of October, or later, according to the 

 state of the weather. They live principally upon 

 land insects, or the larvae and worms they meet with 

 in the saline marshes, and appear very fond of grass- 

 hoppers. About the time of their departure they are, 

 early in a morning, seen sometimes assembled by 

 thousands, but they all begin to disperse as the sun 

 rises, and at length disappear high in the air for the 

 season. They usually associate, however, in small 

 flocks and families, and when alarmed, while on the 

 wing, or giving their call to those who are feeding 

 around them, they have a wild, shrill and whistling 

 note, and are at most times timid, watchful, and diffi- 



