(Plate XV.) 
THE UPLAND PLOVER. 
Actiturus bartramius (Wils.) Bp. 
Bartram's Tattler, the Grass Plover, or Upland Plover, as it 
is various!}' known by sportsmen, is a bird of wide dispersion in 
the Western Hemisphere, except on the Pacific coast, In sum¬ 
mer it reaches northward to Alaska, and southward winter drives 
it to the West Indies, Central and South America. Everywhere 
in the Eastern States it is considered by sportsmen " a prime 
game bird, wild and difficult to secure, best hunted from a car¬ 
riage, and capital for the table. ' 
Although possessed of all the characteristics ol a wader, and 
really belonging to the family of Sandpipers, this “ Plover ” — 
which is not a Plover — habitually keeps away from the water, 
and is most often found on high, dry lands, where one would least 
think of looking for such a bird. It is natural, therefore, that it 
should be one ol the most abundant birds on our western plains, 
where it goes by the name of “Prairie Pigeon " In Texas it oc¬ 
curs in flocks “of thousands; " in Kansas, during the month of 
May, it migrates in great numbers,being scattered over the prairies 
everywhere, and becoming so tame that Dr. Coucs says he has 
seen it just escape being caught with the crack of a coach-whip. 
From here the main body passes northward, overrunning the 
plains of the Upper Missouri, and spreading throughout British 
America. These migrations are performed by night as well as by 
day, with swift, well-sustained flight, high above the reach of the 
gun ; but if the weather is boisterous it flies low, and is easily- 
shot, the lightest charge sufficing to bring it down. Audubon 
gives the following picture of its behavior : — 
“When earnestly followed by the sportsman, they lower their 
heads in the manner of Wilson’s Plover and the species called 
the Piping, and run off rapidly or squat, according to the urgency 
of the occasion. At other times they partially extend their wings, 
run a few steps as if about to fly, and then cunningly move off 
sideways, and conceal themselves among the grass or behind a 
clod. You are frequently rendered aware of your being near them 
by unexpectedly hearing their plaintive and mellow notes, a cir¬ 
cumstance, however, which I always concluded to be indicative 
of the wariness of their disposition; for, although you have just 
heard those well-known cries, yet, on searching for the laird itself, 
you nowhere see it, for the cunning creature has slipped away 
and hid itself. When wounded in the wing, they run to a great 
distance, and are rarely found.” 
As soon as mated the pairs keep close company, rambling 
through the grass, above which their slender necks continually 
sway in graceful motion. In addition to their ordinary clear, soft 
whistle they have at this season a loud, prolonged cry, “sounding- 
more like the whistling of the wind than a bird's voice," which is 
described as strange!}- mournful, especially as it lulls upon the ear 
through the gloom of midnight, when the camp-fire has burned 
low and tli c clouds are scudding across the darkened sky before 
the fitful blast. 
The nest of the Upland Plover is hard to find, since there is 
nothing to guide the eye to it. It is always placed on the ground 
in an open spot, but generally near pools or sloughs, or bj the 
edge of the woods. The nest is flimsy,— merely a few straws 
to keep the four blotched and spotted pyriform eggs from rolling 
a wav ; and the female is so close a sitter that she will suffer her¬ 
self to be almost stepped on before leaving it. Dr, Elliott Cones 
tells what clamor oi an outraged community ensued when once 
he happened on a brood rambling with their mother over the prairie; 
“She sounded the alarm, to scatter her brood, but not before 
I had secured one ut them in my hand. I never saw a braver de¬ 
fense attempted than was made by this strong-hearted though 
powerless bird, who, after exhausting her artifices to draw me in 
pursuit of herself by tumbling about as if desperately wounded, 
and lying panting with outstretched wings on the grass, gave up 
hope of saving her young in this way, and then almost attacked 
me, dashing close up and retreating again to renew her useless 
onslaught. She was evidently incited to unusual courage by the 
sight of the little one struggling in my hand. At this downv 
stage the young birds are white below, finely mottled with black, 
white, and rich brown above; the leet and under mandible are 
light-coloted : the upper mandible is blackish." 
As soon as the young become expert upon the wing these 'bat¬ 
tlers collect into large companies and move southward. This 
migration takes place in latter August or early September. At 
this time they are surprisingly fat, tender, and juicy. 
Their food is mainly insects,— in the West chiefly grasshoppers, 
of which they eat an enormous quantity, — and other small animal 
substances, besides berries and small fruit. 
None, I think, spend the winter within the limits of the United 
States, although many go but a little way into Mexico. 
