CHARADRIIDiE — THE PLOVERS — CHARADRIUS. 
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or chirping, is heard during the month of their passage at all hours of the night. 
They often, when passing, fly at a great elevation. He states that, several minutes 
before the sun had appeared above the horizon, he has seen it shining brightly on 
the under-part of their body and wings. They pass southward in early autumn in the 
same way, travelling wide-scattered, both night and day. He considered it a poor 
bird for food, never having been so fortunate as to get a fat one. 
Their migrations in the fall are more generally noticed, and are more remarkable 
than those which take place in the spring. They occur with great regularity late in 
August, when the great body of the migrating flocks move south with so much regu- 
larity, and with the accomplishment of such great distances passed over without 
opportunity for rest, as to excite much interest. A succession of flocks pass through 
Nova Scotia, striking boldly out to sea, and if the weather is fair, taking a direct 
line southward; they go to the east of the Bermudas, and if not interfered with 
by storms, make no stops until the West Indies are reached. They even pass over 
the first of these in their course. Should an easterly storm prevail about the 24tli 
of August, the birds are driven from their path, and pass in large numbers over the 
eastern portion of Maine, and subsequently over the southeastern extremity of 
Massachusetts. In some seasons large numbers suddenly appear on Montauk Point, 
at the east end of Long Island. Mr. Lawrence states that when they are seen in 
such numbers it is usually about the 28th of August, not varying more than a day 
or two from that time, and then only when a southeast storm has driven them out 
of their regular course over the sea on to the island. Mr. Lawrence was at this point 
in August, 1858, and a southeast storm began on the 27th of that month. Blocks 
of these birds were just appearing as he left on that day, and he afterward learned 
that on the 28tli they came in unusual numbers. In these visitations they remain 
but a short time, the main body moving on south in two or three days. In ordi- 
nary seasons only a few flocks pass the Point at the time of their migration. As 
the result of long observation, Mr. Patrick Gould — Mr. Lawrence’s informant — had 
made out that unless a storm occurred just at the time named, no unusual flight took 
place, showing that their principal migration is made each year at a fixed period, 
and is ended within two or three days. Giraud, whose observations of this Plover 
are confined to their constant and regular migrations, and who took no note of these 
extraordinary flights, states that in their northern movements in spring they arrive 
on Long Island in the latter part of April, and soon pass on to more northern 
regions. They return in the early part of September, and frequent the Plains of 
Hempstead, Shinnecock Hill, and Montauk, where they feed on a variety of insects. 
Grasshoppers are their favorite fare, as well as berries. Occasionally he met with 
these birds along the shores and about the ponds or the low wet meadows ; but they 
generally prefer high and dry land, unincumbered with woods. Hempstead Plains 
are well adapted to their habits, and in some seasons they are quite abundant on 
that miniature prairie. To Long Island hunters, and in the New York market, this 
is known as the “Frost Bird,” as it is usually most plentiful during the first frosts 
of autumn, when it is in fine condition and exceedingly well flavored. 
In regard to the appearance of this bird at Bermuda, Major Wedderburn states 
that during some years large flocks pass over those islands ; but he gives the time 
as September and October, instead of the latter part of August — the usual epoch of 
■its migrations. Except in stormy weather, it does not alight in any great numbers. 
In 1847 the flight was as early as the 21st of August, and in 1848 a single bird was 
seen on the 25th of July. On the 9th of March, 1852, one was shot on the north 
shore — the only instance of its appearing in spring. To this statement Mr. Hurdis 
