1G2 



I'lLlXot'lAI, (iKAI.I-ATollKS— I.IMICOL.K. 



ii|tpr(>;w'liiul ; but this i:, |)r()l>:il)ly owiiiji to tlir intrusions upon its privacy l>y tin- 

 timing ol suiimifr visitors to places in which this liinl was once aiiuntlaiit, and from 

 wliich it has iiccn forced to (h'part. From very many ol our most rrequciiled heaches 

 in New Kni,dand and New ilcrscy this },Macetul and attractive species lias In-en entirely 

 ilriven ; and in iii;iii\ otiieis wiicre a tew still remain their wihluess j;ivcs them, in 

 all proliai>ility. their only chance lor existence. 



In Wilson's day the I'ipinj; Plover was very ahnndant during' the Kiiminer on the 

 low sandy shores all alont; oiir sea-coast, from Cape May northward ; and since then, 

 and until within twenty years past, it was trei|nently seen on all tin- iK-aehes of 



Mi 



issachnsctls. 



This liii'd lives near theed''eol the sea. always on sand\ lieach 



fcedini,' at low w. iter, on the sandy flats, ainoiij; the .sea-weeds of the micovcri'd rocks, 

 and also on minldy Hals, its food is various forms of ndnulc marine life — woinis. 

 Crustacea, and the like. It randy Hies while fcedini;, uniess alarmed ; Imt j,dides alonj,' 

 with a |iecnliar and raphi },'ait over the surface of the Hat .sand. .\t hi^di-tide it re.sorts 

 to the sandy uplands just above the water; and in these places deposits its e>;.i;- in 

 depressions on the bai.- saml. The e^}j;s — bmr in lumdier — arc so sinnlar to the 

 surroundin<; objects, that they are not. readily reco^ni/cd; and if approached, the 

 parents lesort to simple but usually successi id, artifices to draw away the intruder — 

 simulatin.u lameness, and lluttcrint; near the ,L;round as if di.sabled. The youii.t; are 

 alile to run on leaving; the shell, and are led by the mother to b'cd. 'I'hey also 

 rcsendtlc the .sandy soil on which tiic\ univc, and instantly sipiat if approached, 

 remainin^j: immovaitle, and will almost allow theiuselves to be trodden upon rathcr 

 than i>v their motion allow their presi nee to be reveale<l. Durin;.^ incubation the 

 parents rarely sit upon their *')iii!<. except in the ni^dit, or uidess the weather is damp: 

 but always kee|i lU the nei<;ldMirhood. and watch over their ti'casnres with threat 

 solicitude. 



'he notes id' this I'lover are remarkably nnisical and pleasin 



d 



^pecih 



name is oic not undcserscil. \\ here it can be seen in its natural condition, in a 

 rc^;i(Mi where it has never been ilistur'.ii-d or made apprehensive by intruders, it is a 

 jilcasin^' object as, <rra -elnlly L^lidini; over the sandy Hals, and ullcrini; from time to 

 time its soil and plaint ive note, il moves rapidly aloii};. 



If, when on thi' nest, this bird be loo neaily approached, it immediately endeavors 

 to attract alteniiiin by sprcadini,' out itswini,'s and tail, draijttini,' il.self alon^ as if 

 niovin;,' with ^reat dilliculty, and at the .^amc time uttcriu;..; a peculiar siph-akin^ cry. 

 Then, if successful in causing' the intruder to abandon the search 'or the m' ' it 



iiVuU 



es rapidly away, and is soon out of reae 



This species is b)uud aloiii; the toast as far to the eastward as l''astport, but 

 iH'conies quite rai'c in that iieiKhlHuhood, ami only a b'W are .seen at <irand .Menan. 

 Auilidton states that he met with it as far north as the .Ma>;daten Islantis, whcie he 

 foumi it paired and with e;^'^'s on the lllh of .Iniu'. iH.'t.'!. T'>e same writer menlions 

 havin;.; seen these birds brecdiii!.; in Florida as early as tli.' .'td <d .Ma : .so that, if he 

 is correct,' they arc found with more nr less abundance aloni.,' our entire .Mlaiitic 

 coast. .Mr. Dona''' tiiinn procured four specimens at Lake NN'innipc);. ' V. (iundladi 

 has iiibirmed us that he bmnd them breedini;, and procured their e;;},'s, in Cuba. 

 They are only partially mii,'ratoiy. leaviiif.', our more utirthern slion-s in the winti'r. 

 iiiul are foiiMil from (Ntclier to .\pril on the saiuly IhsicIics of the Carolimi.s and 

 riorida. They move simth in tlh- fall in family f,n'""'|'"* "' ''^'' '"' ^'•'''' '""' ""''•' 



' Mr. !'. H. C.iiv foiiiMJ this hiM-ricN atiiiiulaiit iit tin- M.. iliilcii InIhiiiU hi 187S, ami .Mi. W. .\. Slriiiiii* 

 liUN I'l'Cfiitl}' lv[Mi|-ti'il it Hit I'liiniiiiiii ill S Mtliiiii l.iilii.iiliii'. .1. ,\. .\. 



