^0.1.] M'CHESNEY ON BIRDS OF DAKOTA. 87 



On page 449 of his " Birds of the Northwest," Dr. C-oues states that 

 Dr. Suckley fouud it " moderatel}^ abundant" in Minnesota. I suppose 

 reference is here made to the time (1853) when Dr. Suckley was on duty 

 as siu-geon and naturalist of the Survey of the Forty-seventh Parallel, 

 under Governor 1. 1. Stevens. Although the party did not leave Saint 

 Paul until June 8 of that year, Dr. Suckley was engaged for some time be- 

 fore in making collections in the neighborhood of Saint Paul, and was so 

 engaged during the migration of the Golden Plover through that region; 

 and as this bird is in full breeding plumage at this time, and much 

 resembles the Black-bellied Plover, it is not improbable that Dr. Suck- 

 ley mistook G.fulvus virginicus for >S'. helvetica. I believe Dr. Suckley's 

 collection, to which reference is made above, was lost in the Ohio Eiver, 

 which is much to be regretted, as I know of no observations made 

 shice that time (1853) that would su^Dport Dr. Suckley's reference of this 

 bird to Minnesota during the spring migrations. [*] 



Charadrius fulvus virginicus, (Borck.) Cones. — American Golden 

 Plover. 



The sexes are alike in color. 



No Lind toe; plumage speckled above, and in the breeding season (generally so 

 seen throughout Dakota and Montana during the spring migration) black below, as in 

 the last species, but much of the speckling bright yellow, and the rump and ui>per 

 tail-coverts like the back; forehead and a broad line over the eye to the nape white; 

 tail-feathers grayish-brown, with imperfect white or ashy bars ; feathers of the arm- 

 pits gray or ashy. At other times, the under i^arts nearly as in the last species. Length 

 10-11 ; wing 7 or less ; tail under 3 ; bill I or less. A highly-rated game bird, abund- 

 ant in most parts of Dakota during the spring and fall migTations. 



Early in May, the Golden Plover's migrations find him in this region. 

 At this time, the birds are in full breeding plumage, and tarry but a few 

 (lays. Early morning and evening appears to he the time selected for 

 flight, and from the 1st to the 10th of May, they pass over in flocks, 

 containing from thirty or forty to several hundreds, and sometimes thou- 

 sands, of birds, and so constant is the flight that a person here could 

 scarcely be blamed for thinking that he must stand on the only route 

 leading to their northern summer resort. At this time, the birds ai-e in 

 prime condition for the table, and there is no trouble in taking all that 

 are required. From about September 23 to October 20, it loiters here 

 on its retiu-n to the South in considerable numbers. 



Professor Coues, in his " Bu'ds of the ][Si'orthwest," page 451, states 

 that he met with this bird between Fort Eandali and Yankton on the 

 Missouri Eiver, in company with the Bartraniian Tattler and Esquimaux 

 Curlew, and that he found them not at all shy. Where the line of de- 

 parture may be taken I know not, but the Esquimaux Cm-lew does not 

 pass this region, and the Golden Plover has become a very shy bird by 

 the time of its arrival here. When feeding, they are constantly on the 

 lookout for danger, and post their pickets regularly, so that it is almost 



[*This is doubtless a just observation. I have found the Goklen Plover extremely 

 numerous in Eastern Dakota during the spring migr.ation. — C] 



