AMERICAN RING PLOVER. 
219 
breed. At that period, whatever attempts you may make to prevent their 
progress, they always endeavour to advance eastward ; whereas in early 
autumn, they will rove in any direction, as if perfectly aware that the task 
imposed upon them by Nature having been accomplished, they may enjoy 
their leisure. Those which pass the winter within the limits of the Union, 
are mostly found along the shores of South Carolina, Georgia, the Floridas, 
and as far south as the mouths of the Mississippi ; there being no doubt that 
many remain on the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico, as I have found some there 
early in spring, before observing those which I knew by their manners to be 
recently arrived. In the course of my late visit to Texas, I found them on 
Galveston Bay, where I observed some arriving from the westward. 
During their polar migration, they proceed rather swiftly, for although 
they appear to touch at every place likely to afford them food and repose, 
they seldom tarry long. Thus, many individuals, which may have been in 
Texas early in April, not unfrequently reach Labrador by the middle of 
May; although some are a month later in reaching the ultimate point of 
their journey, which, according to Dr. Richardson, sometimes extends as 
far as the Arctic Regions. 
While with us in spring, they confine themselves to the sandy beaches of 
our sea-coasts, whether on the mainland or on islands ; but when they arrive 
at their breeding stations, they abandon their maritime life, and resort to 
mountainous mossy lands, as is also the custom with several other species. 
On my way to Labrador, I saw some of them in almost every place at which 
we landed ; and when I reached Nastasguan Bay, they were breeding in all. 
the spots that were adapted for that purpose. Their manners formed an 
agreeable subject of observation to all the members of my party. As soon 
as one of us was noticed by a Ring Plover, it would at once stand still and 
become silent. If we did the same, it continued, and seldom failed to wear 
out our patience. If we advanced, it would lower itself and squat on the 
moss or bare rock until approached, when it would suddenly rise on its feet, 
droop its wings, depress its head, and run with great speed to a considerable 
distance, uttering all the while a low rolling and querulous cry, very pleas- 
iug to the ear. On being surprised when in charge of their young, they 
would open their wings to the full .extent, and beat the ground with their 
extremities, as if unable to rise. If pursued, they allowed us to come 
within a few feet, then took flight, and attempted to decoy us away from 
their young, which lay so close that we very seldom discovered them, 
but which, on being traced, ran swiftly off, uttering a plaintive peep often 
repeated, that never failed to bring their parents to their aid. At Labrador, 
the Ring Plover begins to breed in the beginning of June. On the 2nd of 
July, I procured several young birds apparently about a week old ; they ran 
