94 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
changed by difference of climate; the former appears to me the 
most probable opinion of the two. 
“ These birds abound in the meadows and low grounds along 
our large rivers, particularly those that border the Schuylkill and 
Delaware, from the 10th of March to the middle of April, and 
sometimes later, and are eagerly sought after by our gunners 
The nature of the grounds, however, which these birds fre¬ 
quent, the coldness of the season, and peculiar shyness and 
agility of the game, renders this amusement attractive only to 
the most dexterous, active, and eager of our sportsmen.”— 
Wilson’s Am. Ornithology. 
The last of what may be called the purely Upland game 
birds of North America, is that commonly known as the Up¬ 
land Plover, also called the Frost Bird and Grass Plover, from 
the places which it frequents, and the periods at which it is 
found in perfection. It is, in my opinion, with no exception, 
unless perhaps it be the Canvass Back Duck, the most delicious 
bird that flies. Though generally known as a Plover , it does 
not belong to that species, but to that of Totanus , Tatler, a sort of 
connecting link between the Snipes and Sandpipers—the Plover 
proper having no hind toe. This is the only one of the three 
families above named that is, in the United States, a land bird, 
its habits being those of the European Golden Plover, the 
American namesake of which is essentially a shore bird. The 
Upland Sandpiper, or Tatler, is thus described by Mr. Audubon : 
BARTRAM’S TATLER. 
Totanus Bartramius — Upland Plover , Upland Sandpiper , Frost 
bird , Grass Plover . 
t( Male, 12j.22. Female, 13.22£. 
u From Texas along the coast to Nova Scotia. Breeds from 
Maryland northward to the Saskatchewan. In vast flocks in 
Louisiana, Oppelousas, and the Western Prairies, in autumn and 
spring. Rare in Kentucky. 
