136 
PRJEUOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOLiE. 
panies the Golden Plover, but the manners of both appear to be identical. They are 
thus met with together both on the shores and in the savannas, but always in 
limited numbers. 
G. H. White procured it near the City of Mexico ; it was obtained in the Bahamas 
by Dr. Bryant ; and in the Bermudas, where it is of rare occurrence, by Lieutenant 
Wedderburn. It is found in Jamaica and in Cuba from August to April. In Florida, 
according to Mr. Moore, it is present throughout the year, and is quite common even 
in the summer months. The summer birds are all in their winter plumage, have no 
black beneath them except on their axillaries, and no white on their heads, but 
sober winter gray ; none show either by their actions or by the condition of their 
internal organs any symptoms of breeding. Migrants return the lltli of August, and 
many spend the winter in Florida. 
The Baron Droste Hiilskoff, in his “ Birds of Borkum,” states that this species 
passes there late in May, and again appears in its southward migrations in August 
and early in September. He describes it as a fine, lively bird, carrying its head and 
body erect, and its breast thrown forward. It runs backward in the manner of the 
Golden Plover ; and, before flying, always lifts its wings high above its head. Its 
flight is peculiarly swift — more so than that of most other shore birds — and it flies 
off in a straight line, now approaching, and now leaving the ground in easy dips, 
extending the wings far, and Hying with powerful strokes. The call-note of this 
bird, he adds, is a sharp whistle, tlj-e-ili, the final note being very softly sounded. On 
the wing it repeats this note with long pauses ; and when at rest, if another of the 
same species settles down beside it, the last part of the call-note is repeated back and 
forth between the two. At sunset they are most uneasy, and fly about, calling con- 
tinually, late into the night. They are very watchful and shy, carefully avoiding 
every suspicious-looking mound, and very rarely approaching a place where a sports- 
man is hid. This is the sentinel of other shore-birds, warning them by its sudden 
flight and loud alarm-note. On the edge of the water it seeks its food in the foam ; 
and, like the sandpiper, wades up to its belly in the water. 
Lord Lilford states that this bird has a curious habit of throwing somersaults in 
the air, in the same manner as the Tumbler Pigeon and Boiler. He noticed this 
particularly in March, 1857, on the Gulf of Arta. 
According to Dr. Cooper’s observations, this Plover is not common along the 
southern coast of California, although some are found there from October to May ; 
but a single specimen was obtained by him on Catalina Island. Farther north in that 
State it is more abundant in the wet season, and chiefly along the sea-beaches. 
Occasionally it visits the prairies, and is there known as the Whistling Field 
Plover. 
About the end of August these birds descend to the sea-coast at the mouth of the 
Columbia Eiver, but are later in their appearance within the limits of California. 
They there feed on shell-fish, Crustacea, and other small marine animals. They are 
generally very shy and watchful, whistling loudly as they fly, after the manner 
of the Kildeer. This species was noticed in considerable numbers about Lake Kos- 
konong, Wis., Aug. 15, 1873. 
Mr. Nelson mentions it as a not uncommon migrant on Lake Michigan, where it 
arrives, in full breeding-plumage, about the 15th of May. A few remain during the 
summer; and although Mr. Nelson conjectures that they may breed, this is not 
probable. Certainly none of their eggs have ever been detected except in the highest 
Arctic regions. They return in September, wearing their fall plumage. 
Mr. MacFarlane discovered this species breeding on an island in Franklin Bay, on 
