SCOLOPACID.E - THE SNIPE FAMILY -BARTRAMIA. 



299 





ot tlio Sfluiylkill. ITo. mentions that, unlike most of its tribe, it seems to prefer 

 iiiniiinf^ about in the j,'rass, feeding,' on Ix'etles and other winged inseets, there being 

 usually tliree or four in eoiupany. The liinl was extrenudy watchful, silent, and 

 sliy. so that it eould only with great ditliculty be a|)|in)a('lied. It was oceasitmally 

 si'cn during the months of August and September, and is described as running with 

 threat rajudity, sometinu's spreading its tail and dropping 'its wings, in the manner 

 (il a bird seeking to attract the intruder away from its nest. It remains as if lixed 

 wlirn it alights, stamls very erect, and as it mounts to fly utters two or three 

 sharp whistling notes. It was always remarkably plumi). It is proitable that much 

 ot Wilson's information in regard to the habits and breeding of the Field Plover, 

 attriliuted by him to the Ulack-ljcllied I'lover, really belonged to the fornuM-, and not 

 to the latter, which is a species not known to breed in any portion of the United 

 States. 



Audubon characterizes this bird as the most terrestrial of the Wading tribe, hardly 

 lii'liniging to that family in its habits, but always keeping away from water, and 

 never venturing to wade. In the dry upland plains of Djjelousas and Attaka]>as, in 

 Liiiiisiana, he found it abundant in early spring as well as in autumn, passing through 

 there in the beginning of March, and returning again in the fall. It was e(pudly 

 al)un(lant on idl the western prairies, on both sides of the Missom'i, arriving there 

 a month later than in Louisiana. The general impression that these birds never 

 associate together ir considerable numbers he observed to be not wholly correct, and 

 Mr. Salvin also nu't with them in quite large flocks in the winter. Audubon also 

 observed them arriving in large bands in the spring in the neighborhood of New 

 Orleans, where they generally remained two weeks, a few continuing until the loth 

 of May. lie noticed that, whether they alighted on fences, trees, and out-houses, or 

 on the ground, they always raised both wings ui)riglit to their full extent, and uttered 

 a loud, prolonged, and not unjileasant note. When jmrsued, they will at times lower 

 tiicir heads and run off rapidly, or, ])artially extending tlieir wings, run a few ste]is, 

 and then take to flight, or, moving off sideway, conceal themselves in the grass. When 

 winged they escape by running off rapidly and hiding themselves so that they can 

 rarely be found. In Louisiana they feed (diiefly on coleoi)terous inseets, and among 

 tlii'se often eat cantharides, and are thus rendered uniit for food. In Xew England 

 they live chiefly on grasshoi)i)ers, crickets, and other insects. In the spring mi- 

 grations they eat wild strawberries, and their fle.sh thus acrpiires a delicious flavor. 

 The flight of this bird is swift and well sustained ; its migrations are mostly at 

 night. 



In South Carolina, according to I)i'. Baehman, this I'lover appears, moving south, 

 aliout the 15th of .Inly — the hottest season of the year — resorts to high grass-lands, 

 vcniaining there id)out a month. It is seldom met with there in flocks of more than 

 fom' or Ave. It is hunted by riding over the fields in a gig, from which the sports- 

 man can shoot the birds as they rise out of the grass ; and this can hardly bo done 

 in any other way. 



The usual call-note of the Upland Vlover, when nndisturl)ed, especially during the 

 breeding-season, is a prolonged and peculiarly soft whistle. This is clear and reso- 

 nant, and to those familiar with it is readily distinguished from any other. The call- 

 notes vary somewhat in their character, and change as the season progresses, and 

 may be heard during the night when the young brood has appeared. These notes 

 change yet more, and become intensified signals of alarm, Avhen the young are threat- 

 ened by danger. ]?ut under any and all circumstances these cries are peculiar to 

 the species, and are unlike those of any of its tribe. 



