136 



PR.ECOCIAL GUALLATOliES — UMICOLJi. 



I 



panies the Golden I'lovei', but the manners of both appear to be identical. They are 

 thus met witli together botli on tlic shores and in the savannas, but always in 

 limited numbers. 



(t. H. White procured it near the City of Mexico ; it was obtained in the Bahamas 

 by Dr. Bryant; and in the Bermudas, where it is of rare occurrence, by Lieutenant 

 Wtdderburn. Jt is found in Jamaica and in Cuba from August to April. In Florida, 

 according to Mr. !Moore, it is present throughout the year, and is (luite common even 

 in the sununer nuinths. The summer birds are all in their winter idumage, have no 

 black beneath them except on their axillaries, and no white on their heads, but 

 sober winter gray ; none show either by their actions or by the condition of their 

 internal organs any symptoms of breeding. Migrants return the 11th of August, and 

 many spend the Avinter in Florida. 



The Baron Droste lliilskoff, in his " Birds of Borkum," states that this species 

 passes there late in May, and again ippears in its southward migrations in August 

 and early in Septembtn-. He describes it as a tine, lively bird, carrying its head and 

 body erect, and its breast thrown forward. It runs backward in the manner of the 

 Golden Plover; and, before flying, always lifts its wings high above its head. Its 

 flight is peculiarly swift — more so than that of most other shore birds — and it flies 

 off in a straight line, now a)iproaching, and now leaving the ground in easy dips, 

 extending the wings far, and flying with powerful strokes. The call-note of this 

 bird, he adds, is a sharp whistle, tIJ-e-ih, the final note being very softly sounded. On 

 the wing it rejjeats this mtte with long ]»auses ; and when at rest, if another of the 

 same species settles down beside it, the hist i)art of the call-note is repeated back and 

 forth between the two. At sunset they are most uneasy, and fly about, calling con- 

 tinually, late into the night. They are very Avatchful and shy, carefully avoiding 

 every susi)icious-looking mound, and very rarely ai)proaching a place Avhere a sports- 

 man is hid. This is the sentinel of other shore-birds, warning them by its sudden 

 flight and loud alarm-note. ( hi the edge of the water it seeks its food in the foam ; 

 and, like the sandpijter, wades up to its belly in the water. 



Lord Lilford states that this bird has a curious habit of throwing somersaults in 

 the air, in the same manner as the Tumbler I'igeon and KoUer. He noticed this 

 particularly in ^larch, IS.")?, on the Gulf of Arta. 



According to Dr. Cooper's observations, this Plover is not common along the 

 southern coast of CJalifornia, although sonu' are found there from October to May ; 

 but a single specimen was obtained by him on Catalina Island. Farther north in that 

 State it is more abundant in the wet season, and chiefly along the sea-beaches. 

 Occasionally it visits the prairies, and is then* known as the Whistling Field 

 Plover. 



About the end of August these birds descend to the sea-coast at the mouth of the 

 Columbia River, but are later in their appearance Avithin the limits of California. 

 They there feed on shell-flsh, Crustacea, and other snudl marine animals. They are 

 generally very shy and watchful, whistling louilly as they fly, after the manner 

 of the Kildeer. This species Avas noticed in considerable numbers about Lake Kos- 

 konong, Wis., Aug. 15, IHlli. 



Mr. Nelson mentions it as a not uncommon migrant on Lake Michigan, where it 

 arrives, in full breeding-plumage, about the Iflth of May. A few remain during the 

 summer; and although ;Mr. Nelson conjectures that they may breed, this is not 

 probable. Certainly none of their eggs have ever been detected except in the highest 

 Arctic regions. They return in September, Avearing their fall plumage. 



Mr. MacFarlane discovered this species breeding on an island in Franklin Bay, on 



