SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER. 
65 
ing the strand at low water. In general, when not too eagerly 
hunted, they are but little suspicious, and may readily be 
approached by the fowler, as well as detained sometimes by 
whistling in imitation of their quailing call. On most occa- 
sions, and when flushed, they utter a reiterated, sharp, twitter- 
ing, and wild note, very much in unison with the ceaseless 
echoes of the breaking surge and the lashing of the waves, 
near which they almost perpetually course, gliding and run- 
ning with great agility before the retiring or advancing waters. 
Their flesh is commonly fat and well flavored, and in early 
autumn they are not uncommon in the markets of Boston and 
New York. 
These pretty and interesting birds are abundant throughout the 
United States during both the spring and the autumn migrations ; 
but excepting an occasional pair that are found in Maine, none 
breed south of the Canadian boundary. Dr. Louis B. Bishop 
reported numbers breeding on the Magdalen Islands, in 1888, and 
the birds are abundant during the summer on the coast of Labra- 
dor. In winter they range into South America, many going as far 
as Brazil and Peru. 
VOL. II. — 5 
