Wayne: Birds op South Carolina. 59 



have been procured in the former locality on July 4, 1864, by R. 

 MacFarlane, Esq. 



118. Charadrius dominicus Mull. Golden Plover. 



The Golden Plover is so rare on this coast that I have shot but 

 one during the past twenty-five years. This specimen was taken 

 within sight of the city of Charleston in December, 1880, and is 

 now in the Charleston Museum. 1 



In winter this species is found as far south as Patagonia. It 

 breeds in Arctic America, chiefly the Anderson River region. 



119. Oxyechus vociferus (Linn.) . Killdeer. 



Although this well-known species breeds in the upper part of the 

 State, it occurs on the coast only from July to April, and does 

 not breed. During very cold weather the Killdeer rises several 

 hundred yards in the air, hovering on almost motionless wings 

 and uttering its far-reaching notes. I have known a pair to 

 remain in the heavens for fully an hour during the coldest weather. 



This species is very partial to fields which are being ploughed, 

 and at this time they are always very tame, following each fur- 

 row as soon as it is turned in order to secure the worms which are 

 exposed. It is to some extent a tidal species, but usually prefers 

 fields. I once saw a flock of at least two thousand individuals 

 which remained in the vicinity of Mount Pleasant for a week, but 

 the birds are generally to be seen in numbers ranging from five 

 to twenty. Audubon says of the species: 2 



Not one, however, has ever been found breeding in the low lands of South 

 Carolina, although these birds remain there until the beginning of May. 



This only substantiates what I have said in reference to the 

 non-breeding, but the Killdeer does not remain until the begin- 

 ning of May as far as my records show. 



120. ^gialitis semipalmata Bonap. Semipalmated Plover. 



Since this species is found in June, and since it also winters 

 sparingly, it is a permanent resident, yet it does not breed. 

 There is a small salt-water lagoon on Dewees Island, bordering 

 the inlet, where this plover winters regularly in small numbers. 

 During the latter part of April, and until the middle of May, vast 

 flocks of these waders frequent this coast. Their numbers are so 



i Spec. No. 36. 2 V, 209. 



