43 
limits of Worcester, about Fitchburg and in the country 
around and between those cities. A few still breed in Worces- 
ter and Berkshire counties, on Nantucket, and possibly else- 
where in the State, so that there is still a nucleus, which, 
if protected, may save the species. Their former abundance 
is shown by some of the statements of the older gunners. 
“ When I was a boy, nine years old, my father killed ninety 
upland plover in one day. He killed sixteen without pick- 
ing one up.” (Gerry.) This was about seventy-five years 
ago, in the days of muzzle-loading guns. “ Breeding birds, 
or those living on Nantucket, have fallen off 66 per cent in 
the last fifteen years.” (Mackay.) “ Upland plover ex- 
tinct here from hunting, but breeds sparingly in northern 
Worcester County.” (W. S. Perry, Worcester.) Five re- 
ports from localities where this bird formerly bred give it 
as nearing extinction, and four as extinct. This is one of 
the most useful of all birds in grass land, feeding largely on 
grasshoppers and cutworms. It is one of the finest of all 
birds for the table. An effort should be made at once to 
save this useful species. 1 
The pectoral sandpiper, or grass-bird, formerly wonderfully 
abundant in the fall migrations on the flats, salt marshes and 
meadows by the sea, has been common until very recently, 
and was abundant occasionally up to within about twelve 
years ago, when I last followed the marsh birds. I have 
been somewhat surprised to hear from Mr. Mackay that this 
species is no longer common in migration. He says they 
seem to have almost disappeared. A few are seen occasion- 
ally in bad weather. Mr. Gerry says he has not now (1905) 
seen a good flight for about ten years. He also says that the 
last really good marsh shooting he had in Massachusetts was 
about thirty years ago. He left the hotel at Wellfleet at 
noon in a carriage, accompanied by Mrs. Gerry; he fired 
twenty-three shots, killed sixty-seven birds, mainly beetle- 
heads, jack curlews and willets, and was back at the hotel 
at 4.30 p.m. Mrs. Gerry held the horse and kept tally of 
the shots fired. There is no difference of opinion in regard 
to the diminution of the shore birds ; the reports from all 
1 It is illegal to kill this bird now (1908). (See page 115.) 
