226 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Ootobbe 20. 1881. 



erciscsasorl of autocratic influence over the sportsmen of 

 thiB country would under 1 aUe to biing about this much 

 needed icfoim. Whoever shall accon pluh this will receive 

 the graitude of thousands of sportsmen, ai d his name would 

 go down to posterity a> a benefactor to ihe r»CB. The past 

 ten or fifteen years has witnessed a vast improve ment in our 

 sporting literature and knowledge of birds. The works of 

 iiaird, Brewer, Coues and the nbt will ever stand as proud 

 tnonuments of tneir labors and successes. Much more is to 

 be done. The field is still open. May we not hope the 

 future will rabe up laborers worthy to wear the mantle of 

 their predecessors and to carry lor ward the work so nobly 

 begun ? 



We puzzled over tb's matter of the Bhoro birds for many 

 yearB, trying to discover some satisfactory theory that would 

 account for their movements and idiosyncracies. Why 

 should certain species divide, one part going up the valley of 

 the M ssissippi and the other via the Allan' io coast, to their 

 Northern breeding grounds ? Wtiy should some numerous 

 species a'l together follow the former and others the tatter 

 route? Again, why do some of them proceed by the one 

 route and return by the other ? The inquiry seemed to lead 

 to the conclu-ion that golden plover, Esquimaux curlew, 

 summer yellowlegs, and a few other species, did take the 

 broad valley of tlie "Father of Waters" for a highway 

 northward in spring, but that the great muss of the adults 

 did not return by tne same road. A few of each species of 

 young, or such as do not breed, may return by the route in- 

 dicated. Then it was ascertained that the above-named 

 species did not appear on the Atlantic coast in spring-time, 

 but tuat all of tbem were abundant in autumn, bo'h old and 

 young. With the birds, as with ourselves, food supply is of 

 the rnost vilid importance. If we study the habits of these 

 birds in relation to the r food we shall rind, to some extent, 

 that the si ecb-s that travel up the Mississippi Valley are of 

 the class that run about on the fields and prairies, and pick 

 op such worms, grubs and insects us are found on the surface 

 of tLe ground, while those that follow the seashore feed 

 niosily on such marine worms and insect- as lie buried in the 

 ni' dst sand or mud, which must be obtained by plunging in 

 the bill and wrenching the savory morsel from its hiding 

 place. But in order to study carefully the habits, food and 

 peculiarities of the shore birds we must be among them, or 

 With tit' 'in— must seek some locality wheie they can easily 

 be observed during the season of their migrations— and, if the 

 reader « ill t o with us early in April to the easterly shores of 

 New England, say. to Cape Cod, the mi st prominent p-int 

 on tlie whole coast, and the one where most of the migrants 

 that follow ihe coast line must show themselves, we will 

 take our stand there and " see what we skill see' 1 of those 

 birds as tiny puss al ng. Of the swimming birds (Natatore*) 

 and the olheroiderswe hav.- at present nothing to do, norshall 

 we speak of such waders (G-ratlutorts) as are not considered 

 worhy the attention of sportsmen, or, in other words, our 

 remarks will refer only to such of the waders as visit the sea 

 shore, and will add something to our supply of food. 



The winter residents, the snow buntings, (Emberez i nivalis, 

 Linn.) and the shore larks (Abiuda nlpestris, Foster), have 

 barely bid adieu to the land Of their sojourn aud set out for 

 thtir more northern homes, when the spring season is 

 ushered in hy the soft plaintive note of tne piping plover 

 (JSffial'tis mehdu.% Cab.) and the shrill tones of the ring-neck 

 (JEgialitiii sem pcdmatu<, Cub.). The former is a summer 

 res dent, and rears its 3 oui g within the doleful sound of the 

 fog horn on Pollock Hip. Posribly the latter may have bred 

 here in Colonial limes, but rarely, if at all, in later years. 

 They do 1 ot teem to be ss gregarious in spring as most of 

 the o her shore birds, nor is either species very uumerous. 

 They lead an industrious life, ruuuim; about upon tlie dry 

 sand moie than most of this order, and seem to fei d on sand 

 fleas and such other insects 08 they find there. By the mid- 

 dle of April, in a forward s aaon, will be heard the pecu- 

 liarly curved and inspiriting triple note of the winter yel- 

 lowleg (JtoUmua melanokm-u*, Viei 1.), and if wetake a si roll 

 down ovei the low ninrsh' s, we shall be likely to see a soli- 

 tary individual or small flock feeding on the little minnows 

 thai are so iiuia rous along the ditches and ma' shy inlets at 

 high tide. i-omeiiuies they resort to the fund flats, but do 

 not peem to pick up any food there ; n r is this their usual 

 feeding ground. They breed pretty much all over the coun- 

 try, aud are common in winter as far noit.h »s the Carolinas. 



Another early visitant is the red bucked sandpiper or win- 

 ter -nipe (Tri> ga alpi.na var. americana, Cass.). Not nu- 

 merous iu spring, but quite so in fall. They are abundant 

 at Lake Ontario and fu ther west, about the middle of May. 

 and will be louu 1 all winter in Virginia, at Currituck Sound 

 and points further s ulh, where tl ey are regarded as winter 

 r. sidents. They feed on the flats and around Ihe lake shores, 

 much i he same as do sandi rlings and other members of the 

 group. In the Hebrides they mix with the golden plover 

 and aie called ' plovei's page"." 



About the 10th of May the least sandpiper (Tringa pu.vTa, 

 Wils.) conies gliding along trilling its cheerful," glei some 

 notes. There are two — possibly three — sprcies or varieties 

 of these grate'ul lit le creatutes, commonly called "peeps." 

 The above species is de.-igi ated as a " marsh peep," baa olive 

 or yellow bill aud feet, and feeds aound little pools on the 

 m .rshes. or on mud patches. The other sp cies, "sand 

 peep" ( Tringa »v;»,fpaW/i./, Wils.) is larger, 1 ghter color and 

 more gregarious than his Hi tie cous'n of the marshes; has 

 black leet and bill, feeds on the sand flats and spits, though 

 they s mettaes go On 10 the marshes as do the others on to 

 the sand flats. They rt tiro at high tide with the other shore 

 birds to the high beaches for safety or rest, but. return as soon 

 as the tide ebbs sufficiently to allow them to feed. They are 

 very ii dustrious, running about, punching their bibs into 

 tl e shikI in search ot food, devouring only the ihoicest spe- 

 cimens of worms or minute mollusks, always in a hurry, and 

 by the first of June FCttrcely any will he seen in this vicinity. 



The (-underling (Colidris aienaria, 111 ) is another numer- 

 ous spi cms, which arrives about the same time of the preced- 

 ing. They are quite gregarious, feeding along the edges of 

 tidt -water much the same as the peeps, and exhibiting about 

 the same uerv.ius energy in searching for food. 



By -May Both we shall begin to hear the dual whistling note 

 of the red-breas'ed sandpiper (/Tringa eanulus, Linn.}, which 

 is hailed with delight by such gunners as enjoy slaughtering 

 them at this season of the year. Usually they are in large 

 flocks burning along, stopping but a few days to feed and 

 lest. Nor wtP many be set n alter the 1st or 5lh of June. 

 They have a.pevcha<t. for " uorsefoi I" eggs, and display con- 

 siderable ingenuity in discovering these delic ite moreeauz, as 

 they lieburied inihes ud. When any panic ilars|iotissu?pect- 

 ed.ihev commence scratching '<7« hen, and poking out the eggs 

 wi h their bi Is. Turnstones seem as well to enjoy the rich 

 repast, ofien joining in the search, and when found, a free 

 flghl ensues to see who shall possess the prize. Oanulvs 



also feeds on the insects, fish-spawn and other glutinous sub- 

 stances found at low tide attached to eel grass and other 

 1 quatic plants. It is presumed they go very far north to breed, 

 nst hey are abundant all the way from theC-reat Lakes to Cape 

 Breton and the Magdalen Islands, or more to the eastward 

 than most of the shore birds The adult males begin to re- 

 turn about the 26th of July, followed by the females, and 

 still later by the young, who do not all retire before the fore- 

 part of October. 



Strepsilas inUrpres, EL, with as many aliases as a pick- 

 pocket, is Bti 1 a very clever little fellow, but hardly belongs 

 to any family. They arrive about the 15th of May, not in 

 large flocks, but singly or in groups of three or four individ- 

 uals, feeding along the edge of the tide, or dilligently turn- 

 ing over small stones or pebbles, exploring every nook and 

 corner to find any tiny crab, flea or worm that may lie se- 

 creted there. They are not particularly shy birds, and as 

 they decoy well, are easily killed from blinds or stands, 

 though their call note is ever so hard to imitate. Early in 

 August they come straggling along back, feeding much as in 

 spring, nor do they ever go on to the marshes or fields, except 

 when driven by wind or "tide. 



The blackbreaated plover — beetle-head (Squatarokt lieteeli- 

 ca, Cuv.) is the largest of the plover family. The date fixed 

 for their arrival in some sportsmen's calendar is May 10, 

 though in a favorable season they appear a few days earlier. 

 Their round, full note is the "sportsmens joy," though we 

 have for years protested aeaiust the slaughter of these noble 

 birds just as they are on the verge of the breeding season. 

 Every true sportsman must feel in autumnal what a fearful 

 cost he gets a few days' shooting in spring. Every year the 

 "bay birds" are getting scarcer and scarcer until it is "even now 

 almost impossible to make a respectable "bag." One g-ts 

 hardly enough to call it sport. Legislative authority has 

 been invoked, but very little wisdom has been exhibited by 

 that august body in framing laws to protect these birds. 

 Often has a blush mantled our cheeks, as we have been re- 

 minded of the stupidity of our Legislators in making it a 

 crime to kill the least of the shore birds, a peep, while any 

 pot-hunter may slaughter blackbreasts, redbreasts, chicken- 

 birds, winter yellowlegs aud Wilson's snipe to his heart's 

 content without fear of molestion, all through the spring mi- 

 grations 1 



At this season of the year all of the order are socially in- 

 clined, as it is their wooing and pairing season, when they are 

 often in large flocks, easily decoyed, aud then the serried col- 

 umns are cut down; nay, slaughtered by thousands, ruthlessly, 

 by hands whose love of greed has conquered their better 

 judgement. It requires no prophet to come and tell us that 

 if we destroy the birds in spring time just as they are about 

 10 lay their eggs they will not return with the r offspring in 

 the fall. Beetle-teads do not go on to the fields or pastures, 

 but keep down on the beach or sand flats, where they find an 

 abundance of long, depressed worms with many fogs upon 

 which they feed. They arc, as their food would indicate, 

 more of a shore than inland bird, though very likely a few 

 may wander away as far West as Iowa. The plovers in 

 common with the other shore birds belong to the class called 

 pracoces, i. e., run about in search of food as soon as hatched 

 and, therefore, require much less attention from their parents 

 than do AUrices. The paternal relative repoaing great confi- 

 dence in the energy and skill of his ppouse to protect and 

 nurse the callow brood, literally deserts his home and fami- 

 ly, and wanders away back, the wretch, possibly to fall a 

 victim to some breech-loader on Cape Cod at the very spot 

 where in spring he was observed so attentive to his youthful 

 bride on th> ir" Northern tour. 



The willet or humility (Bympliemia xemipalmata, Hsrt.) 

 arrives often paired, toward the end of May. Not abundant. 

 Breeds in this latitude and even much further South. They 

 are scattered over the Western Stales down to the Gulf of 

 Mexico and the West India Islands, where many of them pass 

 the winter. They go on to the marshes at hign tide, but feed 

 along the edtie of the water on minnows, crabs and marine 

 insects. More of an inland bird, frequenting wet places on 

 the prairies and around pond holes. Not regarded of much 

 value for food. Occasional!}' we shall see marbled godwit 

 (Limona. f doa, Ord.) strolling abouton the sand or mud flats, 

 plunging their long, stout bills in up to their eyes in search 

 of small worms that are teeming there in great variety. It 

 is alleged that they devour small fish arid fiddler crabs. 

 They do not go on to upland fields, but at high tide retire 

 With their congeners to the sand dunes. Abundant in the 

 neighborhood ot Oregon Inlet, and fun her West in summer. 

 Quiet in their manners, not flying about, as much as some of 

 the other waders. Were formerly quite plentiful in New 

 England, but for the last decade have been scarce. The 

 other godwit (Limosa Hudxonica, Swain.), better known here 

 as "spot rump," is very rare in Bpring ; has much the same 

 manner and habits as the preceding, but is more likely to be 

 caught out in an easterly Btorm, and driven on to our coast 

 witli golden plover; then his stalwart relative, L. fedoa, 

 which would seem to indicate an Eastern or Atlantic route 

 for I heir Southern migrations. 



The vernal season will scarcely bring us acquaintance with 

 sickle-billed curlew (Nvmenivi Xongirostris, Wils.,) though 

 a straggler may occasionally be seen. These birds hardly 

 go as far east as the Magdalen Islands or Labrador, come on 

 10 our coast in small flocks in the fall, and linger about the 

 high beaches, dry marshes, and along the wind-rows of sea- 

 weed which have been washid up by the tide, where they 

 gormandize on black crickets and flies which they are very 

 expert in capturing. They are said to roost at night on these 

 heaps of seaweed. They sometimes betake themselves to 

 1 ho sand flats where they occasionally indulge in a stray min- 

 now, pah ry crab, or juvenile insect. Well distributed over 

 the continent, they are believed to breed as far south as 

 Virginia. They are plenty all winter on Savannah River, 

 and are there called " fish ducks" by the natives, but are not 

 esteemed of value for table use. They feed there more on 

 the marches, and relire to adjacent islands to roost. Being 

 heavy, clumsy creatures, they are, many of them, presumed 

 lo pass the winter within the territorial limits of the United 

 States. 



Toward the end of May a few short-billed or jack curlew 

 (Numeniui Hudnonicm, Lath.,) may be seen, like their con- 

 generic relative with the long decurved rostrum, running 

 about on the high beach, picking up black crickets, small 

 snails and crabs. Both species have been scarce for many 

 years. 



Of the snipe family we have a beautiful representative in 

 (Macrorhamphus gi incus, Leach). It is not numerous in 

 spring, but iaquitfc so in summer, aud easily bagged, They 

 are not here generally called, red-b'easted snipe, but "brown 

 backs." They stick their long bills into the mud or sand 

 flats presumably to frighten out the insects and worms that 

 lie burrowed there, s» that they may be easily [captured. 



Very likely their sense of sme'l is so acute lhat they are ab'e 

 to strike at once their prey. Their sojourn to their breeding- 

 ground is very brief, scarcely more than six weeks. The 

 adult males begin to return iu considerable numbers about 

 the 10th or 15th of July, aud by the end of August, both 

 young and old ha ve winged their way to wa 1 d scjtiati 'rial regions. 



There is another beautiful plump little bird (Tringa 

 ■macitlatn, Vieill.) well-known on our coast in summer and 

 autumn under various cognomens, as "Jack snipe," 

 " krieker," "grass bird," etc., but they are rarely, if ever 

 seen in the spring. The advancing columns occupy the 

 broad valley of the Mississippi, especially that portion of it 

 lying nearest to sunset. As this interesting species is not 

 a spring visitant at Cape Cod it hardly comes within the 

 scope of these notes, and yet we cannot refrain from a 

 passing remark particularly as there seems to be a wide 

 discrepancy of opinion iu relation to it. The best observers 

 with whom we have come in com act declare there are two 

 distinct species or varieties, though none of the books recog- 

 nize two. One is ever smaller, more delicate, and produces 

 a finer, softer, gentler note than the other, which is more ro- 

 bust and utters a strong, shrill, trilling, whistling uole. A 

 casual observer would most, likely pronounce them old and 

 young, but there is such constant divergence as to preclude 

 the possbility of harmony in one species. The habits, of the 

 two species are quite similar. Their usual place of abode is 

 on the bare spots or amidst the short grass or mossy places 

 on the marshes, where they seem to feed on flies, insects and 

 mollusks, and become very fa', so much so that they are ofien 

 Called "fat birds." Tliey rarely goon to the sand flats or 

 pastures, nor do they seem to be as sensdive to cold at, some 

 of the shore birds, and although they begin to be seeu as 

 early as the 20lh of July, they do not all bid farewell to these 

 friendly feediug-grouuds till into November. They are 

 abundant io Chili and other parts of South America. 



There are a few other species represemed at this point, 

 such aa buff-breasted sandpiper (Tringa rufescens, Cab), 

 curlew sandpiper (Tringa subarquata, Temm.), Bonaparte's 

 sandpiper ( Tringa Bo/uipnrUi, Schleg.), stilt sandpiper 

 ( Miej-upuliima himiuiUmux, Baird), purple sandpiper (Tringa 

 maritima, Brunn.), and possibly a few others, including two 

 or three of the Pnalaropes, hut none of these are in such 

 numbers as to be attractive to spoilsmen or receive any 

 special notice in this connection. It will also be observed 

 we have made no mention of golden plover, Esquimaux cur- 

 lew or summer yellowlegs (Tola nut jlavpen, Bon.), simply 

 because tbey are not cons ant visitants to our sin 'res in 

 spring, though the latter does appear here exceptionally. 

 Mr. 0., a very keen observer of the habits of birds, informs 

 us that during a period of seventy-five years himself and 

 father had bien in the field ihey had s«en ouly three smuttier 

 yellowlegs and but two golden plover in spring. Mr. B,, who 

 has been for forty years a gunner on this coast, has seen but 

 one golden plover at this season. 



But let us step over to the Mississippi Valley and take a 

 S'at beside our intelligent friend aud naturalist, Dr. N., of 

 Foit Dodge, Iowa, au'l listen to his disc .urse. and we shall 

 discover quite a different state of thing*. He will inform 

 us lhat early in spring sickle-billed curlew and marbled god- 

 wits arrive paired, breed in the neighborhood and disappear 

 in July, or as early as tin young are Qedited and can take 

 care of themselves, and fire seen no more till the following 

 spring. Undoubtedly portions of both species go to much 

 more northern breeding-grounds. The offspring of the pre- 

 vious year arrive a little later than the adults, iu flocks, and 

 remain so a'l summer, as they do not propagate till the second 

 year. The young return by the same road they came. The 

 cm lew feed on dry plain or prairie land, while the god wits 

 betake themselves 10 the fens or bos>gy places, where 1 hey 

 can K rce their long, stout lulls into the soft mud for worms, 

 after the manner of woodcock. Wilict arrive singly or in 

 small groups. Not abundant. Breed. T ie llutbon'an god- 

 wits come along in large flocks, sojourn for a brief period, 

 and then push on further nor h to breed, nor are Ihey Seen 

 again till the next year. Kill-deer (J£gi.<iliiU v-i-i/crus, 

 Cass.), called here "dotterel," are abm dant summer resi- 

 dents— iu fact, they breed pre' ty general y over ihe conti- 

 nent. Theliltle sa,adpipev('Jri'igimmuliihi, Vieill.) is a'so 

 a summer resident, aud breeds. The white-niniped sand- 

 piper (7*. Bonapartii) is quite common, brteds here as well bb 

 further north, aud returns with the two preceding. There 

 a'e two of the dowitcher.i (M. grhma, Leach, an d .!/". ml- 

 opaceuH, Law.). Both appear in closely-coinpucled flocks in 

 M ry, tarry but a short time, when thi-ynie drawn to their 

 northern aud moie secluded nesting places. The flr3t-naim d 

 make their return trip mostly via the Atlantic coast, while 

 the last named return by the saute route they advanced. 

 Krom the first to th^ tenlh of May, just as the young and 

 tender gras3 begins to grow, one may see immense flocks of 

 golden plover sweeping along like an invading army. They 

 are attracted to newly-burned prairie 1 uids, whicti seem to 

 furnish an abundance of little hard worms upon which ihey 

 feed. They also frequent the newly-ploughed fields or 

 ihose just sowed with wheat. They are loss numerous 

 now i.bau they were forty years ago, when, as we are 

 informed, the farmers in many places believed liny de- 

 voured a great part of the seed wheat, and poison 'us 

 grains were scattered for the purpose of destroying 

 them. As the birds do not belong to the gizzard 

 tribe — Gallime -we doubt it the allegation can be sustained. 

 They probably go to the freshly upturned fields in qu'-st of 

 larva: and grubs thai are injurious to the wheat crop, and are 

 really friends and co-workers with the farmer, as arc most of 

 the leathered tribes, rathi r Lhau his enemies. They do not, 

 however, tarry many days, but proceed to their extreme bo- 

 real breeding-grounds, nor do they, except a few youngsters 

 — "pale bellies" — return by the valley route. Accompany- 

 ing aud mingliug freely with the go;deu plover are the Es- 

 quimaux curlew, or dough birds, in great rmmbnra. Their 

 habits are very similar to those of their cn-migrants, but tbey 

 do not get as fat. Still tbey are slaughtered by thousands, 

 barreled and shipped to Eastern markets. A few only of the 

 young return. 



Upland plover (Actiturut bartrainim, Bon.) come paired, 

 breed and retire early. In New England they rear their young 

 on the grassy slopes of high hills, where they remain till ihe 

 middle of July, when they retreat 10 the river bottoms, inter- 

 vales, or dry salt marshes and plains, where they feed on 

 grasshoppers and crickets till about Ihe 15th of Angus', when 

 they silently depart. Their line of march is not confined to 

 the seaboard, and both old and young of ibis species travel 

 in company. Th y are a very shy bird, as any one who has 

 attemp edto hunt Ihciii will vouch, taxing his utmost skill, 

 and even then will most likely defeat the object of Ida ambi- 

 tion. One of the im st successful sporlsmeu and best shots 

 in this section, Mr. T., informs us— and we insert this bit of 

 secrecy here as a douceur to our disappointed brethren who 



