OF A RANCHMAN 107 



practice of shooting them, though I have 

 fired at them sometimes with the rifle, and 

 iis way have now and then killed one; 

 twice I have hit them on the wing with this 

 weapon, while they were soaring slowly 

 about above me, occasionally passing pretty 

 near. 



The grass plover is found in the same 

 places as the curlew, and like it breeds with 

 us. Its flesh is just as good, and it has 

 somewhat the same habits ; but is less wary, 

 noisy, and inquisitive. The golden plover is 

 only found during the migrations, when 

 large flocks may sometimes be seen. They 

 delicious eating; the only ones I have 

 ever shot have been killed with the little 

 ranch gun, when riding round the ranch, or 

 travelling from one point to another. 



Like the grouse, and other ground-nest- 

 ing birds, the curlews and plovers during 

 breeding-time have for their chief foes the 

 coyotes, badgers, skunks, and other flesh- 

 eating prowlers ; and as all these are greatly 

 thinned off by the cattle-men, with their 



