GOLDEN PLOVER, CURLEW, GRAY PLOVEK. 153 



ones. At their 'first arrival the flocks of plover 

 and curlew are rather wild and difficult to get 

 at. In their sojourn on, and long flights from, 

 the plains of Texas across Arkansas, and along 

 the Mississippi River to Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, 

 and Kansas, they have not been accustomed to 

 the neighborhood of men, and at first they are 

 shy. But if not shot at and frequently disturbed, 

 they soon get tame, and may be approached. 

 But some knowledge of their habits and some 

 craft are always requisite in order to get good 

 chances at these shifty and cunning birds. On 

 some days the flocks, will be much on the wing, 

 flying from one field to another, .and all going in 

 one direction, as wild pigeons do. At such times 

 the shooter may take a stand in the line of flight, 

 and get fair shooting all day as the flocks go over. 

 It is not necessary to hide altogether ; in fact, in 

 these localities — the burnt prairies and great pas- 

 tures — there is seldom the means to do so ; but 

 it is. often desirable to lie down. Here again 

 it must be observed that it is of no use to lie 

 down in clothes strongly in contrast as to color 

 with the ground or grass. The golden plover 

 and curlew are low-flying birds, and, when lying 

 down in about the line of flight, the shooter may 



