338 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



the Atlantic States the species undoubtedly would increase. 

 Indeed, it is believed that even now the birds are coming to 

 parts of Cape Cod in the spring in much larger numbers than 

 before the spring shooting of shore birds was prohibited. 



In May, 1909, I learned from Mr. J. A. Farley that a great 

 flight of Blackbreasts was passing Sandy Neck, Barnstable, and 

 through the kindness of Mr. Vaughan D. Bacon I am able to 

 present some notes on this flight: "May 14, lots of Plover, 

 even way up in cranberry bogs. May 20, M. G. reported three 

 thousand Yellow-legs and Plover. May 22, marshes full of 

 birds. May 23, northeast storm; plenty of birds. May 24, 

 M. H. reported flats covered with Plover and Yellow-legs at 

 low tide. May 27, harbor and marshes full of birds; saw 

 three thousand Blackbreasts rise in one flock from Phyllis 

 Island. May 29, at Sandy Neck, bunches of Plover flying all 

 day; fifteen to twenty in a bunch. May 30, Plover stiU flying 

 in bunches, like Coot. May 31, plenty Blackbreasts all along 

 shore; flats covered at low tide. June 1, Blackbreasts fewer 

 but still plenty. June 2, wind southwest; only a few Black- 

 breasts. June 3, Blackbreasts fewer. Last birds seen on the 

 8th." 



Such flights as these seem like the days of old, and go to 

 prove that more and more birds are finding refuge in Mas- 

 sachusetts in spring. I am told that this Plover comes to 

 Connecticut in larger numbers and stays longer since spring 

 shooting has been prohibited. 



The experienced adult birds are very wary, and where 

 they are not molested in spring they are likely to return year 

 after year. During the fall these old and "educated" birds 

 will not stop often or stay long where they are much hunted. 

 The fall flights seen here consist very largely of the young or 

 immature birds, called Beetle-heads, Chuckle-heads, etc., by 

 gunners. 



In New England this bird is found mainly along the coast, 

 and is seen usually in greatest numbers on Cape Cod, where it 

 feeds along beaches, sand bars, salt marshes and flats left bare 

 by the tide. It often seeks its food in the foam. Sometimes 

 it goes to the uplands, particularly when the tide is in, feeding 



