CLASS II. AVES: ORDEli 7. GRALLATORES. 295 



them remain through the winter in the southern parts of England, France, and Italy. They fre- 

 quent moors, heaths, downs, and wide, open fields. Many also arc seen along the sea-shores. 



The American Golden Plover, C. Virr/inicus, is ten and a half inches long, mottled above 

 with black and greenish-yellow ; beneath marked with large patches of black. On this conti- 

 nent it ranges from 23° to 70° north, and is popularly known to sportsmen by the names o^ Frost- 

 Bird and Green-Back. Nuttall says: "They arrive on the coast of the Middle and Northern 

 States in spring and early autumn. Near to Nantasket 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 larvaj and worms they meet with in the 

 saline marshes, and appear very fond of grasshoppers. 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 sn}all 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 difficult to approach. Though they continue associated in numbers 

 for common safety during the day, they disperse in the evening, and repose apart from each other. 

 At day-break, however, the feeling of solitude again returns, and the early sentinel no sooner 

 gives the shrill and well-known call, than they all assemble in their usual company. At this time 

 they are often caught in great numbers by the fowler, with the assistance of a clap-net, stretched 

 before dawn in front of the place they have selected to pass the night. The fowlers, now sur- 

 rounding the spot, prostrate themselves on the ground when the call is heard, and as soon as the 

 birds are collected together, they rise up fi'om ambush, and by shouts, and the throwing up of 

 sticks in the air, succeed so far in intimidating the plovers that they lower their flight, and thus 

 striking against the net. it falls upon them. In this and most other countries, their flesh in the 

 autumn, and particularly that of the young birds, is esteemed a delicacy, and is often exposed for 

 sale in the markets of our principal towns." This species has been supposed identical with the 

 European Plover, but it is now generally regarded as distinct ; it is supposed, however, to be iden- 

 tical with the Asiatic Plover, known in India, the Asiatic Islands, and New Holland. 



The Dotterel, C. morinellus, is nine and a lialf inches long, varied above with brown, ash, 

 buff", and white ; breast fawn, belly black. Its migrations resemble those of the C. j^luvialis. 

 They are regarded as silly birds, and hence a foolish person is in England called a dotterel. 

 They are greatly esteemed for the table, and many are taken in nets. Drayton alludes to its 

 habits, and to the popular idea that it imitates the actions of the fowler, as follows : 



" The Dotterel, which we think a very dainty dish, 

 Whose killing makes such sport as no man more can wish. 

 For as you creep, or cower, or lie, or stoop, or go. 

 So, mocking you with ease, the apish bird doth do ; 

 And acting every thing, doth never mark the net, 

 Till he be in the snare which men for him have set." 



Other foreign species of Plover are as follows : the Ringed Plover, C. hiaticula, eight inches, 

 long ; distributed throughout Europe, and for a long time erroneously considered as identical 

 with our Riny-Neck : the Kentish Plover, C. Cantianus, seven inches long; common in Middle 

 and Southern Europe : and the Little Ringed Plover, C. minor, resembling the C. hiaticula ; 

 found throughout Europe. 



The American Ring Plover, C. semipalmatus — Aegialitis semipalmatus of Bonaparte — is 

 seven inches long; brownish-ash above, beneath white ; frontlet and ring over the breast, black ; 

 breeds as far north as Labrador, and is common on our shores from August to October, after 

 which it migrates southward. Some, however, are stationary in the Southern States. It is often 

 called Riny-Plover, and, as we have stated, has been supposed identical with the European 

 Ringed- Plover. 



The Piping-Plover, C. melodus — A. melodus o^ Ord — is si.x and a half inches long; found 

 along the eastern coast of the United States, and is known among our fowlers by the names of 

 Jieach-Bird and Beach-Flea. It appears among us in April and disappears in October. 



