PLOVER. 153 



Mgialitis cantiana.— Cones. Snowv Plover. 

 This species is found west of the Rocky Mountains, and is 

 common all along the coast of California. 



Etcdromias tnontanus. — Harting. Mountain Plover. 



The Mountain Plover is common from Kansas to the Pacific 

 Coast. It feeds on grasshoppers especially, and seems to be en- 

 tirely independent of water. Here also may be mentioned the re- 

 markable Surf bird of the Pacific Coast, Aphriza virgata, appar- 

 ently a Plover, being a connecting link between the Plover and the 

 Oyster-catchers. 



All the Plover have a singular habit when alighting on the 

 ground in the breeding time ; they drop their wings, stand with 

 their legs half bent, and tremble as if unable to support their 

 bodies. In this absurd position they will sometimes stand for 

 several minutes, uttering a curious sound, and then seem to bal- 

 ance themselves with great difficulty. This singular manoeuvre is 

 no doubt intended to induce a belief that they may be easily caught 

 and so turn the attention of the egg-gatherer from the pursuit of 

 the eggs to themselves, Plovers' eggs are recognized all over 

 the world as a great delicacy. 



As to the methods employed in securing the smaller Plover, 

 the suggestions in our account of the larger shore birds are of 

 course applicable to the former, both being frequently found asso- 

 ciated while feeding. These birds are never hunted with dogs, 

 owing primarily to the habits which bring them tq the open sand 

 flats, and also to the fact that they have littlp or no scent. These 

 remarks are not applicable to the Grass Snipe or Pectoral Sand- 

 piper, which in some respects resembles the Wilson's Snipe, being 

 often found in wet meadows and lying well to a dog. 



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