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AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. 



often runs with considerable rapidity to some distance, suddenly stops short, 

 nods once or twice, vibrating its body at the same time, and if it should 

 imagine itself unnoticed, it often lies down and remains crouched until the 

 danger is over. At the time of their departure from the north, and while 

 on the sands or mud-bars on the sea- shore, they often raise their wings as if 

 to air them for a few moments. While searching for food, they move in a 

 direct manner, often look sideways toward the ground, and pick up the ob- 

 ject of their search by a peculiar bending movement of the body. They are 

 frequently observed to pat the moist earth with their feet, to force worms 

 from their burrows. In autumn they betake themselves to the higher 

 grounds, where berries as well as insects are to be met with, and where they 

 find abundance of grasshoppers. 



When travelling to a considerable distance, the Golden Plover flies at the 

 height of from thirty to sixty feet, in a regular manner, with considerable 

 velocity, the flock, when large, forming an extended front, and moving with 

 regular flappings, an individual now and then uttering a mellow note. 

 Before alighting they often perform various evolutions, now descending and 

 flying swiftly over the ground, then curving upwards or sidewise, closing 

 and extending their ranks, until the sportsman is often tired of watching 

 them, and, after all, the flock, just when he expects it to alight, may suddenly 

 shoot off and fly to a distance. When they alight within shooting distance, 

 the moment their feet touch the ground is the critical one, for they are 

 generally in a compact body, and almost immediately afterwards they dis- 

 perse. I have often observed them while flying from one place to another, 

 suddenly check their course for a moment or two, as if to look at the objects 

 below, in the manner of Curlews. 



While at New Orleans, on the 16th of March, 1821, I was invited by 

 some French gunners to accompany them to the neighbourhood of Lake St. 

 John, to witness the passage of thousands of these birds, which were coming 

 from the north-east, and continuing their course. At the first appearance of 

 the birds early in the morning, the gunners had assembled in parties of 

 from twenty to fifty at different places, where they knew from experience 

 that the Plovers would pass. There stationed, at nearly equal distances 

 from each other, they were sitting on the ground. When a flock approached, 

 every individual whistled in imitation of the Plover's call-note, on which 

 the birds descended, wheeled, and passing within forty of fifty yards, ran 

 the gauntlet as it were. Every gun went off in succession, and with such 

 effect that I several times saw a flock of a hundred or more reduced to a 

 miserable remnant of five or six individuals. The game was brought up 

 after each volley by the dogs, while their masters were charging their 

 pieces anew. This sport was continued all day, and at sunset, when I left 



