CHARADRIIDiE — THE PLOVERS — CHARADRIUS. 



143 



On the Pacilic coast this bird is comparatively rare. Dr. Cooper never met with 

 it in Southern Calii'ornia, and has only seen a single specimen, shot near San Fran- 

 ciHCO by Mr, J. Hej)burii. Dr. Newberry mentions having noticed it in the northern 

 part of that State in autumn. 



In Nortlicastern Illinois and near the shores of Lake Michigan, Mr, Nelson con- 

 siders this species a very abundant migrant. It arrives in large flocks early in April, 

 tlie black of their breeding-plumage only just beginning to mottle their white breasts. 

 I'licy frcipu'nt wet ja'airies until the hist of the month, when they leave, a few 

 remaining into May. Returning early in September, they stay until October. 



They resort to breed to the most northern portions of the continent, from Green- 

 laud to Sitka. Dr. Walkpr, of the " Fox," nu'utions meeting with them on the coast of 

 thecnland, near (iodthaab, and afterward finding them breeding in the marshy val- 

 leys of Bellot's Strait in .lune. This species is included in Keinhardt's list of the 

 birds of (ireenland, on the strength of specimens taken there by Holbtill. 



Captain lUakiston noted it as only a passing visitor in the more southern parts of 

 British America, and as numerous in iaitumn on the shores of Hudson's Bay ; but it 

 did not appear to be common on the Western plains. Mr. Ross mentioned this Plover 

 as being abundant on the ^lackenzie, and Hearne speaks of it as having been called, 

 a century ago, by the Indians of Hudson's Bay, "Ilawk's-eye," — a name indicating 

 its watchfulness, when sitting, in preventing a too near approach. He describes its 

 motions when on the wing as swift and irregular, ])articularly when single or in small 

 flocks. Though never nunu'rons at Churchill Uiver, yet at Fort Y'ork, in the fall of 

 1773, he saAV this bird in immense flocks. They were, however, by no means equally 

 plentiful in all years nor in all places. At Fort Albany several barrelsfid were 

 aninially salted down for winter use. He adds: "This bird during the summer 

 resorts to the remotest northern parts, for I have seen them at Copper Kiver, though 

 in those dreary regions only in pairs. The young leave the nests as soon as hatched, 

 and when but a few days old run very fast. At night or in rainy weather the old 

 ones call them together and cover them with their wings in the same manner as a 

 lu'U does her chickens." 



Richardson in his account states that the breeding-cpiarters of this species are the 

 Barren Ground, the Arctic coast, and the islands of the Arctic Sea ; that they hatch 

 early in June, and retire southward in vVugust. Numbers, however, linger on the 

 muddy shores of Hudson's Bay, and on the sandy beaches of the rivers and lakes of 

 tlie interior, until the hard frosts of September and (Jctober drive them away. At 

 this period they are very fat, and are highly prized by the epicures of the Fur 

 Country. 



This Plover appears also to be a common species on the northwestern coast. Ban- 

 nister gives it as common at St. Michael's. It was procured by Bischoft" at Sitka and 

 Kadiak, and is mentioned by Dall as being abundant at Nulato and all along the 

 Yukon River, where it arrives during the latter part of May. 



Mr. MacFarlane's Arctic Notes are very full in reference to the nesting and breed- 

 ing habits of this species. The nund)er of eggs was almost invariably four, but in 

 one instance five were said to have been found. Out of one hundred and fourteen 

 recorded nests, ninety-two contained four eggs. In one instance only one egg, nearly 

 ready to hatch, was found. The nests were noticed throughout the Barren Grounds, 

 from the time of the party's leaving the woods quite uj) to that of their arrival 

 on the Arctic Ocean. The nests were in all instances mere depressions in the soil, 

 generally lined with a few dry leaves, and were diflicult to find, as there was nothing 

 to distinguish them from the soil — which the eggs very closely resemble in color — 



