THE BEETLEHEAD PLOVER 71 
and stocky head and neck, and not in the slur- 
ring manner in which these names are com- 
monly used. But whatever the name he is one 
that commands the hearty admiration of the 
sportsman, and well may the Beetlehead be 
appreciated, both in the lonely places where he 
dwells and at the table, for he is one of the 
finest of our shorebirds in the qualities which 
the marsh gunner prizes, as well as a sweet 
morsel for the epicure. 
They are principally seen on our shores dur- 
ing the migrations, coming in large flocks dur- 
ing the latter part of April and the first of 
May, northward bound to their breeding 
grounds, returning in smaller bunches from 
August through September and the first half 
of October, going as far south for winter quar- 
ters as the West Indies and sometimes even to 
Brazil. Their migratory flights mainly take 
place at night, the birds resting and feeding 
during the day. 
During the spring flights they are for a short 
time abundant on our coasts. Caring little for 
the muddy flats and even less for the marsh- 
lands, they feed along the rocky shores and 
bare sea beaches, dashing in upon each re- 
