462 GAME BIBDS OF CALIFOBNIA 



According to the observations of MacFarlane in the Anderson River 

 region, near the Arctic coast of Canada, the nests were "... mere 

 depressions in the soil, generally lined with a few dry leaves, and 

 were difficult to find, as there was nothing to distinguish them from 

 the soil — which the eggs very closely resemble in color. ..." The 

 eggs are usually four in number, pear-shaped, and measure in inches, 

 1.84 to 2.00 by 1.25 to 1.35, averaging 1.91 by 1.31. Their ground- 

 color is of various shades of drab, while the superficial markings are 

 of deep umber brown, almost black. These markings are chiefly in 

 the nature of sharply defined spots, and are well scattered over the 

 surface, being perhaps somewhat more numerous about the larger 

 end. These eggs differ from those of the Black-bellied Plover in being 

 slightly smaller and relatively narrower. 



When driven from the nest the female "... runs a certain dis- 

 tance, and if she succeeds in enticing the party away, will then take 

 to flight. In a few instances, when the bird was surprised by a near 

 approach before she left, she pretended lameness, and fluttered at 

 their feet" (Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, 1884, I, pp. 143-144). 



The American Golden Plover performs an annvial migration some 

 18,000 miles in extent from the time it leaves the breeding ground 

 in the fall to the time when it returns in the following spring. In 

 August the birds leave the breeding grounds on the northwestern 

 shores of America and pass to Labrador where they feed on the crow- 

 berries and become exceedingly fat. From this place they pass to 

 and across Nova Scotia whence they take wing and, if the weather 

 is good, pass directly over the ocean to the Lesser Antilles, and to 

 the northeastern coast of South America. Only stormy weather at 

 sea will cause the species to touch on the Atlantic coast of the United 

 States and then only in the vicinity of New England. Reaching South 

 America, they pass southward into the pampas region of Argentina 

 where they spend the winter. In the spring the flocks move north- 

 ward and after reaching the United States traverse the entire length 

 of the Mississippi Valley. Thence they move on through Canada to 

 their breeding grounds in the extreme north. Cooke (1910, p. 81), 

 who has worked out the above described route of migration, advances 

 the following theory to account for it: 



The plover is a bird of treeless regions; it summers on the tundras and 

 winters on the pampas; an enormous food supply especially palatable tempts 

 it in the fall to Labrador and furnishes power for the long flight to South 

 America. To attempt to return in spring by the same course would be suicidal, 

 for at that season Labrador would furnish scant provender. The plover seeks 

 the shortest treeless route overland, and alighting on the coast of Texas travels 

 leisurely over the Mississippi Valley prairies, which are abundantly supplied 

 with food, to the plains. of the Saskatchewan and thence to the Arctic coast. 



