PLOVERS. 33 



Golden Plover. Charadrius dominions. 



The golden plover was formerly a very abundant spring migrant 

 in the Mississippi Valley during March and April, but in recent years 

 its numbers have been greatly reduced by constant persecution, so 

 that now it is infrequently seen. In the fall most of these plovers 

 migrated south from their breeding grounds on the Arctic tundras 

 to their winter home on the pampas of Argentina, by a long flight 

 over the Atlantic Ocean. 1 A few, however, passed south through 

 the Mississippi Valley. They were reported plentiful at Fayetteville 

 March 20 to 31, 1883 (Harvey), and a small flight was seen near 

 Crocketts Bluff October 22, 1882. 2 



Killdeer. Oxyechus vociferus. 



The killdeer was formerly a common summer resident over most 

 of the United States, but now is rare in many sections. It was 

 reported as breeding at Clinton in 1889, but none were observed 

 anywhere in the State during my 1910 trip (May-July). It still 

 occurs frequently in migrations and is recorded as common in win- 

 ter (November to January) on the Grand Prairie about Stuttgart 

 (Hollister) and at Van Buren (Hanna). The first arrivals were 

 noted at Fayetteville March 1 (Harvey, 1883). Two were seen at 

 Delight, November 7 (Savage), and a few at Mud Lake, November 

 13, and at Turrell, November 17-19 (McAtee). 



[Semipalmated Plover. Mgialitis semipalmata. 



This little plover, often known as the "ringneck," is a common migrant in the 

 Mississippi Valley, occurring chiefly in April and May, and again in July, August, 

 and September. It will probably be found as a regular transient in Arkansas.] 



[Piping Plover. JSgialitis meloda. 



The piping plover is an uncommon migrant in the Mississippi Valley, occurring 

 in Missouri in May, August, and September (Widmann). It may be looked for 

 during the same months in Arkansas.] 



Ruddy Turnstone. Arenaria interpres morinella. 



The turnstone nests in the Arctic regions and winters from the 

 Gulf coast southward. It is known as a rather uncommon transient 

 visitant in the Mississippi Valley during August and September and 

 less frequently in spring. It was reported by Dr. Richardson in 

 1886 as a "rare migrant" at Osceola, the only record from the State. 



Bobwhite. Colinus virginianus. 



The bobwhite or quail is generally distributed in the State, and 

 may be found in all cleared sections from the Mississippi bottoms 

 to the tops of the highest mountains. It was formerly abundant 



i Cooke, W. W., Bull. 35, Biol. Surv., pp. 80-85, 1910. 



2 "Byrne" p. B. Wier], Forest and Stream, XIX, p. 286, 1882. 



-Bull. 38—11 3 



