THE WILD FCWL OF THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER. 367 



The black-bellied plover {Charadfius squatarola), known also as the "lapwing'' 

 or "Swiss plover,'' is a frequenter here, arriving at the same time with the 

 golden plover, on its way north, returning usually in September. They are by 

 no means numerous in this region at any time; but when found it is usually 

 about the sandy shores of our inland lakes, and on similar shores around the 

 islands in the St. Lawrence. 



Markings. "Hind toe present but small; above, black and white, no yellowish; 

 below, black." 



The Wilson plover {Ochthrodromus wilsonius) is found here, one of its best- 

 known local breeding places being along the shores of Mud Creek in the town of 

 Cape Vincent, though it no doubt breeds at numerous other places near the river. 



Markings. "No black on hind neck. One black breast, and crown band; 

 some rusty about the head." 



Though not common, the turnstone {Arenaria interpres), known also as the 

 "red-legged plover," is frequently seen and sometimes killed, but not often. 



The ring-tailed marlin (Lvnosa fedod) is occasionally taken here. 



The dowitcher {Macrorhamplms griseus) is occasionally taken. This bird is 

 also known as the "red-breasted snipe" and by some hunters who come here the 

 "New York godwit." 



Markings. "Rump, tail under wing coverts and axillars barred black and 

 white; above, black margined with rusty; rump white; below, reddish brown 

 spotted and barred with black." 



Wilson snipe (Galhnago delicatd) breeds here in abundance, and is much sought 

 after by our sportsmen. Many of our local hunters call this the "jack snipe." 

 In fact, jack snipe is really the only name one hears for this species, unless it 

 may be just "snipe." 1 It usually arrives here when the ice is leaving the river. 

 A few nest here; but when the weather begins to grow warm they nearly all 

 take their flight northward, breeding beyond the northmost boundary of the United 

 States. The snipe bores in the mud and soft earth for its food, and the hunter, 

 if he sees no evidences of boring for worms, may be sure that there have been 

 neither snipe nor woodcock ahead of him. 



There is seemingly nothing more uncertain than the arrival and departure of 

 this bird. ( Usually they arrive from the north the last of September; but no matter 

 how soon a sharp frost occurs they are away as suddenly as they came, leaving 

 scarcely a straggler behind. 



Huntington gives one leason for the disappearance of snipe from many localities, 

 which I am inclined to think is in a great degree applicable to this region. He 



