PLOVER-SHOOTING. 213 



plowed ground, especially such as lies on high, rolling 

 hills or table-lands. Sometimes, too, the}- patronize dry 

 corn-fields, or closely cropped meadows. They will fly 

 around over a last year's stubble-field, which is being 

 turned under by the plow, and alight close behind the 

 plowman in the fresh furrow; but in that case they are as 

 likely to hop over on the dry ground as on the fresh. 

 They feed mostly on seeds, fresh young grasses or herbs, 

 and small insects. These birds were once more plentiful 

 in Iowa and Missouri than they are now. '1 hey have 

 kept near the front edge of civilization, although they 

 are not strangers even in such States as Illinois and 

 Indiana. In the Indian Territory, they are very abun- 

 dant, although I never heard of anyone caring enough for 

 them to go so far as that for them. They are very plenti- 

 ful pretty much all over Kansas and Nebraska, in season, 

 and probably sport at them may be had about as well in 

 those States as anywhere. 



"The hunter for upland plover does not need any dog. 

 If he has a dog, he would better tie him up at home, and 

 then shoot him, for fear he would get loose. Most of all, 

 the hunter needs a horse, or team of horses, properly 

 broken to 'stand fire,' and a light rig of some kind, 

 which will admit of his getting in and out very quickly. 

 The upland plover is, in some respects, no fool. It will 

 rarely allow itself to be approached by the hunter on 

 foot, and although a few birds may be bagged by the 

 walking hunter, it is safe to say that his bag will be light 

 beside that of the shooter w r ho has a forty-year-old horse, 

 blind in both eyes, deaf, and of a sweet and peaceful dis- 

 position. A very good rig for plover-shooting is a light 

 two-wheeled road-cart, with no body, and only a seat and 

 a pair of wheels. With this sort of an outfit, the hunter 

 can travel over almost any kind of country, and can 

 easily jump out and fire when he has worked in close 



