99 



for a few days before I saw them, with the wind from the south, but on 

 that day the wind blew stiff from the north, with broken clouds flying, 

 and the air pretty cold. The birds were on the hay-flats on the south 

 side of the river. I drove up the valley seven or eight miles, and was 

 not out of sight of large flocks any of the time. They were wild and I 

 killed only three." 



In the spring of 1884 there was no regularity in the notes on this 

 species, and probably the fault was in the birds. At Polo, 111., the first 

 was seen April 30, and the day before at Heron Lake, Minn., they were 

 found in flocks which stayed about two weeks. At Alda, Kebr., a good 

 many passed over during the nights of April 25 and 27. On April 16, 

 flocks of thousands were seen at Argusville, Dak., and the bulk was 

 given as arriving at Vermillion, Dak., May 5. 



In the spring of 1885 the first Black-bellied Plover was seen at Hen- 

 nepin, 111., April 2; at Heron Lake, Minn,, April 24; and at Huron, 

 Dak., May 5. The last at Hennepin, 111., was seen May 3. 



272. Charadrius dominicus Mull. [515. "I Golden Plover. 



Breeds in the Arctic regions, and occurs in migration throughout the 

 Mississippi Valley and Manitoba. In the spring of 1884, at Caddo, Ind. 

 Ter., the first came about March 11 ; between March 21 and 27, it was 

 noted from latitude 39° in Missouri to latitude 41° 42' in Iowa, and to 

 Chicago, 111. Then no more records were made until after the April 

 storms. About April 16, it began to move again, and April 24 it was 

 reported from Unadilla, Nebr., and Leeds Centre, Wis.; April 29 it 

 reached Heron Lake, Minn., and the first week in May was reported 

 from Argusville and Larimore, Dak. In southeastern Dakota it is very 

 abundant during migration. 



In the fall of 1884 the first Golden Plover was seen at Emporia, Kans., 

 October 22 ; and at San Angelo, Tex., where it was reported as a winter 

 visitant, flocks of hundreds were seen in November. 



In the spring of 1885 the van reached Gainesville, Tex., March 17. 

 They were found in the Saint Louis market March 26, and the same day 

 were seen at Odin, 111., and Eichmond, Kans. At Hennepin, 111., a flock 

 was seen March 31. They came to Des Moines, Iowa, April 16 ; Fern- 

 wood, 111., April 25; Heron Lake, Minn., and Argusville, Dak., May 4. 

 The last at Eichmond, Kans., was seen May 8. 



In the fall of 1885 the first was noted from Fernwood, 111., July 15; 

 no more until August 3; common August 20; disappeared October 12. 



Dr. F. W. Langdon states that in West Baton Eouge parish, La., 

 in the spring of 1881, Golden Plover "frequented the pastures and 

 stubble-fields from April 2 to 15, in flocks numbering from a dozen to 

 twenty individuals." (Jour. Cin. Soc. Xat. Hist., Vol. IV, 1881, p. 154.) 



273. ^Igialitis vocifera (Linn.) [516.] Eillcleer. 



Breeds throughout the Mississippi Valley and Manitoba ; an abun- 

 dant winter resident along the coast, and for 100 miles inland ; less com- 



