162 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



Although of nearly cosmopolitan distribution, this large and hand- 

 some Plover is nowhere abundant. It has been found breeding on 

 the Arctic coast east of the Anderson River, where its eggs were 

 taken by Mr. Macfarlane. 



In its migrations, it prefers the sea coast on either side to the 

 interior, but a few are also observed inland. 



At Hamilton, it visits the beach in spring and fall in limited 

 numbers. I once got two out of three very handsome individuals 

 which I saw there on the 3rd of June. In the "List of Birds of 

 Western Ontario," it is mentioned as a "common migrant" at St. 

 Clair Flats. It is also seen passing throughout the North-West, and 

 Mr. White has found it at Ottawa. 



Until quite recently, the only breeding place I had heard named 

 for this species was within the Arctic Circle. In the " Birds of 

 Minnesota," Dr. Hatch says: "In the summer of 1875, a clutch of 

 four eggs was sent to me with the female, which proved to be a 

 Black-bellied Plover. It was obtained in the vicinity of upper Lake 

 Minnetonka. Since then several nests have been reported by persons 

 competent to determine them, and I accept the conclusion that this 

 species breeds to a limited extent in some portions of the State." 



A few are said to breed at the mouth of the Yukon in Alaska, but 

 at St. Michael's, where Mr. Nelson was stationed, he did not find it 

 in summer. 



SUBGENUS CHARADRIUS LINN.EUS. 

 CHARADRIUS DOMINICTJS (MULL.). 



120. American Golden Plover. (272) 



Plumage, speckled above, and, in the breeding season, black below, as in 

 the last species, but much of the speckling bright yellow ; and the rump and 

 upper tail coverts, like the back ; forehead and a broad line over the eye to the 

 nape, white; tail feathers, grayish-brown, with imperfect white or ashy bars; 

 axillars, gray or ashy. At other times, the under parts nearly as in the last 

 species. Length, 10-11; wing, 7 or less; tail, under 3; bill, 1 or less. 



HAB. Arctic America, migrating southward throughout North and South 

 America to Patagonia. 



Nest, composed of dry grass, in a natural hollow in the ground. 



Eggs, four, similar to those of the preceding species but not quite so large. 



Old sportsmen tell us that Golden Plovers used to follow the line 

 of the Detroit River in immense flocks, passing quickly to the north 



