AMERICAN RING PLOVER. 219 



breed. At that period, whatever attempts you may make to prevent their 

 progress, they always endeavour to advance eastward; whereas in early 

 autumn, they will rove in any direction, as if perfectly aware that the task 

 imposed upon them by Nature having been accomplished, they may enjoy 

 their leisure. Those which pass the winter within the limits of the Union, 

 are mostly found along the shores of South Carolina, Georgia, the Floridas, 

 and as far south as the mouths of the Mississippi; there being no doubt that 

 many remain on the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico, as I have found some there 

 early in spring, before observing those which I knew by their manners to be 

 recently arrived. In the course of my late visit to Texas, I found them on 

 Galveston Bay, where I observed some arriving from the westward. 



During their polar migration, they proceed rather swiftly, for although 

 they appear to touch at every place likely to afford them food and repose, 

 they seldom tarry long. Thus, many individuals, which may have been in 

 Texas early in April, not unfrequently reach Labrador by the middle of 

 May; although some are a month later in reaching the ultimate point of their 

 journey, which, according to Dr. Richardson, sometimes extends as far as 

 the Arctic Regions. 



While with us in spring, they confine themselves to the sandy beaches of 

 our sea-coasts, whether on the mainland or on islands; but when they arrive 

 at their breeding stations, they abandon their maritime life, and resort to 

 mountainous mossy lands, as is also the custom with several other species. 

 On my way to Labrador, I saw some of them in almost every place at which 

 we landed; and when I reached Nastasguan Bay, they were breeding in all 

 the spots that were adapted for that purpose. Their manners formed an 

 agreeable subject of observation to all the members of my party. As soon 

 as one of us was noticed by a Ring Plover, it would at once stand still and 

 become silent. If we did the same, it continued, and seldom failed to wear 

 out our patience. If we advanced, it would lower itself and squat on the 

 moss or bare rock until approached, when it would suddenly rise on its feet, 

 droop its wings, depress its head, and run with great speed to a considerable 

 distance, uttering all the while a low rolling and querulous cry, very pleas- 

 ing to the ear. On being surprised when in charge of their young, they 

 would open their wings to the full extent, and beat the ground with their 

 extremities, as if unable to rise. If pursued, they allowed us to come 

 within a few feet, then took flight, and attempted to decoy us away from 

 their young, which lay so close that we very seldom discovered them, 

 but which, on being traced, ran swiftly off, uttering a plaintive peep often 

 repeated, that never failed to bring their parents to their aid. At Labrador, 

 the Ring Plover begins to breed in the beginning of June. On the 2nd of 

 July, I procured several young birds apparently about a week old; they ran 



