I" l.i i \ : 



|M>rtioiisnf its range. Th< name Mountain I'loM-r i- -.-aiv.-l\ appropriate. Thf l>inl inhabit* 

 high plains, hut n<.i. in an\ x-n-e. mountain-. l^uitf unlikf otht-r 1'lov.T-. it do.'- i\\ fivqiu-nt 

 1 1 ,,. -..,-. !..;...,:..; is in BO dqpWM aquatic din!, ''"' ! ''' ' ''' -' plain- ; arroni|inii) 

 ing Short- Uirks, Titlarks, and tin- BoftOWtegOwL It somftinifs inhabit- -and \ plain-. wln-ii- 

 the pri'-kly ]>ear and wild sage grow abundantly. It i- -< -n in N.-w M. -\ii-.i. lM-t\\.-,-n tin- 

 ami tin- lia-- of the mountains, in great abundant-.-. :i--...-iat,-d \\ith Ing billed 

 I>r. Coin-- tfll- 11- tli:it thf \ . on iN-ing di-tmU-d. |o\\.-r tin- hrad. ami run rapidly 

 a ft-w .-tfp- in a light, easy \\a\. and then stop abruptly, drawing themsehf- up to their full 

 li.-ight, and looking around with timid yet unsuspidous glances. Their notes are nitln-r JHTII 

 liar, as rom | >a red with those of our other Plovers, and vary a good deal, a. voiding to diruin 

 stances. When thf birds are feeding at their lfi-mv, and no way appre hensive of danger, tin- \ 

 utt<-r a low and ritln-r pleasing whistle, though in a S..MI.-U hat drawling, or nitlit-r lisping, 

 loin-; but the note changes to a louder and higher one, sometimes sounding harshly. When 

 forced to fly by persistent annoyance, they rise rapidly, with quirk wing-beate, and then pro- 

 <-., 1. wit ha!t<-rnat<- sailing nd i::i|'i'in_. 'I'M in_ DM GotlMi MttOB ii-Miii- HMWi^pdMOTid 

 They generally tly low over the ground, and soon re-alight, taking a few mincing steps as they 

 touch the ground. They tlu-n either squat low, in hopes of hiding, or stand on tip-toe, as it 

 were, for a better view of what alarmed them." 



The food of this Plover consists of insects mostly, especially the grasshoppers, when great 

 numbers are present. It is then this bird is excellent eating, becoming very fat from the 

 superabundance of food. 



PLOVEB (Ochthodromut vriltoniv-s). This bird is almost as circumscribed in 

 habitat as the preceding, but on precisely opposite sides of the hemisphere ; it- range being con- 

 fined to the eastern and southern portions of the United States, and the same in South America. 

 Its long, stout bill renders it easily known ; its short tail also is a characteristic feature. 



When Wilson wrote about the birds of America, this bird was regarded as new to him. 

 It was subsequently named in his honor, by Mr. Ord. Referring to this bird, he wrote : 



( if this neat and prettily marked species, I can find no account, and have concluded that 

 it has hitherto escaped the eye of the naturalist. The bird was shot on the shore at Cape 

 Island, New Jersey, by my ever-regretted friend, and I have honored it with his name. It was 

 a male, and was accompanied by another of the same sex, and a female, all of which were 

 fortunately obtained." Its favorite resort is the sandy Hats near the sea-shore. 



The ever-enthusiastic Audubon praises the bird in the highest terms : 



"Reader, imagine yourself standing motionless on some of the sandy shores between 

 South Carolina and the extremity of Florida, waiting with impatience for the return of day ; 

 or, if you dislike the idea, imagine me there. The air is warm and pleasant, the smooth sea 

 reflects the feeble glimmerings of the fading stars, the sound of living thing is not heard. 

 Nature, universal Nature is at rest, and here am I, inhaling the grateful sea-air, with eyes 

 intent of the dim distance. See the bright blaze that issues from the verge of the waters ! and 

 now the sun himself appears, and all is life, or seems to be ; for, as the influence of the 

 Divinity is to the universe, so is that of the sun to the things of this world. Far away, 

 beyond that treacherous reef, floats a gallant bark, that seems slumbering on the bonqrn of 

 the waters like a silvery sea-bird. Gentle breezes now creep over the ocean, and ruffle ito 

 surface into tiny wavelets. The ship glides along, the fishes leap with joy, and on my ear 

 comes the well-known note of the bird which bears the name of one whom every ornithologist 

 must honor. Long have I known the bird myself, and yet, desirous of knowing it better, f 

 have returned to this beach many successive seasons for the purpose of observing its ways, 

 examining its nest, marking the care with which it rears its young, and the attachment w hi. h 

 it manifests to its mate. Well, let the scene vanish ! 



"Wilson's Plover 1 I love the bird and its name, because of the respect I bear towards 

 him to whose memory the bird has been dedicated. How pleasing, I have thought, it would 

 have been to me, to have met with him on such an excursion, and, after having procured a f- 

 of his own birds, to have listened to him as he would speak of a thousand interesting facts 



