CIIAnADRIID.E — TIIK PLOVERS - SQl'ATAROLA. 



135 



In the Appendix to Captain ]*arry's Second Voyage, Richardson states that this 

 bird was found breeding near the margins of tlie marshes immediately to the south- 

 west of Fury I'oint in considerable numbers. Some specimens were also obtained 

 near Felix Harbor. The sanu- writer, in liis " Fauna Boreali-Amerieana," states that 

 it breeds in o])en ground from IVnnsylvauia to the nortiiern extremity of tlic con- 

 tinent. This is a mistake — an error origimiily of Wilson's, but co])ied also by 

 Audubon, Xuttall, and Samuels. It does not breed within the limits of the United 

 States, and probably nowhere south of the exLrenu' northern latitudes. Specijiieiis 

 have been received from Hudson's 15ay by Cr.ptain Blakiston which had been taken 

 there by Mr. Murray. It was found on the JMackeuzie by Mr. Ross, where, however, 

 it was rare. 



This Flover passes northward througli the United States in May. and returns 

 southward in August. It occurs si)aringly in various ])arts of this country iiTCgu- 

 larly during the intervening winter months from August to May. According to 

 Giraud, it reaches Long Island early in the month of May, and s])ends but a few 

 days on the sandbars and beaches, tlien leaving for the north. In the month of 

 August it returns with its young. These are so different in their plumage, that by 

 many gunners they are supposed to be ;\ diiferent bird, and are knowni as the " l>ull- 

 lieaded Plover" or the " Reetle-headed Plover." They are very shy. but may fre- 

 (juently be enticed within gunshot by imitating their plaintive note. In autumn they 

 are found along the whole sea-coast of Long Island, subsisting on minute shell-fish 

 iuid marine insects, and becoming very fat. They renuiin until the latter part of 

 Septendier, when they move southward. Early in the autumn this bird is very abun- 

 ilaut about jMontauk I'oint, aiul during September Giraiul met with it thrcmghout 

 Ills entire route across the hills, but found it most niuuerous on a large bare sjjot 

 abounding with grubs, worms, and insects of various kinds, about four miles from 

 the lighthouse. 



According to Lewis this bird is best known to sportsmen of the Middle States 

 as the '"Old Field." or "AVliistling" J'lover. It jiasses through Mew .lersey early 

 in Jlay, and returns in August. 



Those that feed on the uplands on berries and grasshoppers are fat and of a line 

 tlavor; but those frccpuMiting the sea-coast soon accpiire a sedgy and unpleasant 

 taste. They naturally tiy high, and kec]) uj) an incessant whistling, which is easily 

 imitated and made use of as a decoy. This bird is ditHcidt of approach while feed- 

 ing, and its capture requires much precaution and the use of various stratagems. 



So far as it is possible to ascertain, this Plover does not breed in the nu)untains 

 of Pennsylvania; and the statements of Wilson and Audubon in regard to its breed- 

 ing habits, and their dcscrii)tion of its nests and eggs, must be admitted to have been 

 based on incorrect infornuition. The eggs described by Wilson are probably those of 

 tlie Willet, and do not at all resemble those of this species ; while the eggs described 

 by Audubon are yet more dissimilar, and without much doubt were those of Rartram's 

 Tattler, which, as well as this species, is known as the " Field Plover." 



In its winter wanderings this species visits the West Indies, Mexico, Central 

 America, and parts of South America. Early in Septend)er, or from the 5th to the 

 loth, they are found on the Rio Grande, and return on their way north during the 

 latter part of May. Mr. Salvin states that it occurs on the sandy plains of Chiapan, 

 in Guatemala, where it was found intermingled with flocks of Triiiyce. Leotaud 

 mentions it as a migratory visitant in Trinidad, where it is hardly ever seen by 

 itself, but is usually in the midst of a flock of the ChnrmJrlus virgininis. It arrives 

 about the end of August, and leaves in October. The Reetle-head not only accom- 



