298 PR^COCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



about the second or third week in March, when it becomes very abundant on the 

 grassy i)rairies. It is in poor condition when it arrives in sj)ring, and soon goes far- 

 ther north ; a few linger, however, until May 10. Some reaiDpear in July, and by 

 the first of September have become abundant, but begin to leave about the middle of 

 that month, few being seen after the first week in October. Their stomachs were 

 usiially found filled with snails. In Northern Illinois, where this bird is a very com- 

 mon summer resident, Mr. Nelson states that it arrives early in April and departs in 

 September, frequenting the borders of marshes and uncultivated prairies. At first 

 it is difficult of approach, but it becomes entirely reckless dming the breeding-season, 

 when it hovers over the heads of intruders. Not being apjjreciated as game, it is 

 said to be but little hunted in that jiart of the country. Dr. Cooper mentions having 

 met with this bird at the western base of Mullan's Pass in Montana, but adds that 

 it is not known to occur west of the mountains. He also saw the young of this spe- 

 cies on the plains of the Upper Missouri in June. Mr. J. A. Allen noticed it in 

 Colorado in August. Mr. Eidgway informs me that it is quite abundant on all the 

 prairies of Southern Illinois. He also met witli it in July on Kamas Prairie in Utah, 

 where a few were seen in the grassy fields. In Southern "Wisconsin, JVIr. Kumlien 

 informed me, in 1851 this bird, then very common there, was known as the " Prairie 

 Plover " and also as the "' Prairie Snipe," and was much more common on the prairies 

 than in the openings, arriving early in April. 



Giraud, in his "Birds of Long Island," mentions finding this sijeeies very plentiful 

 on the Shiunecock Hills and on Montauk Point — especially at the latter place. In 

 these hilly districts the capture of this bird by the unmounted sportsman is easier 

 than it would be in a level region, as advantage can be taken of the inequalities of 

 the ground to approach within shooting distance. The customary mode of pursuing 

 it, however, is in a vehicle. In this manner it is more readily aijproached ; and by 

 most hunters its pursuit in any other way than by riding is regarded as hopeless. 

 On the Shiunecock Hills and on Hempstead Plains Giraud found this species quite 

 common, and it is there variously known as the " Upland," the '• Field," and the 

 " Grass Plover." It was everywhere very wary and difficult of approach. On the 

 ground it has an erect and graceful gait. When alarmed it runs rapidly for a 

 short distance before taking wing, uttering a whistling note as it rises. Its flight 

 is very rajjid, and it frequently goes entirely out of sight before it re-alights. It 

 usually keeps on the dry open ground, feeding on grasshoppers, upon other insects, 

 and on seeds. In the month of August it is generally in very fine condition, and is 

 highly prized as game. When feeding, these birds scatter about, all moving off the 

 instant an alarm is given. They migrate southward in the latter part of August, 

 and p)erform the journey by night. Some stragglers, however, remain behind until 

 late in Seijtenilier. 



The Upland Plover is foiand in favoring localities in various parts of New Eng- 

 land, usually in hilly and uninhabited tracts not far from the coast. Occasionally 

 it is met with in more inland regions, as in elevated and barren districts in New 

 Hampshire, and probably also in iVIaiue. I have found it breeding in Ithode Island 

 near Narragansett Bay, and on high grounds near Carlisle, Pa. In the latter place 

 the nest was a mere depression in a ploughed field, with only a few pieces of decayed 

 grass-stems to keep the eggs from the damp soil. 



This species seems to have been only imperfectly known to our earlier ornitho- 

 logical writers. Wilson and Nuttall were luiaequainted with its eggs, and Audubon 

 saw them for the fii-st time in my cabinet in 18.30. Wilson, who was the first to 

 describe it, met with it near the botanical garden of his friend Bartram, on the banks 



