AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. 
GOLDEN YELLOW RUMP is 
one of the names often applied 
to this most beautiful member 
of the Plover family, which is 
thus made conspicuous and easily rec- 
ognizable. It is found everywhere in 
the United States, from the Atlantic to 
the Rocky Mountains, but is rare on 
the Pacific coast south of Alaska. They 
are seldom found far inland, their nat- 
ural home being on the seacoast, oc- 
casionally frequenting marshy or wet 
grounds, though as a rule they prefer 
the sandy beach and adjacent flats and 
uplands. During migration their flight, 
especially in the spring, is hurried, di- 
rect and in the night, only stopping to 
rest and feed during the day, returning, 
it is said, in a more leisurely manner 
and largely along the seashore. When 
on the ground these birds run about 
on unbended legs, the bodies in a 
horizontal position and heads drawn 
down. While sleeping or resting 
they usually sit or stand on one leg. 
Captain Houdlette of the Oceanic 
Steamship Company caught a Plover 
that came aboard his ship while on its 
way from Alaska to Hawaii. These 
birds are not web-footed, and the cap- 
tain seems to have solved the problem 
as to whether they ever rest on the 
water during their long flights. He says 
they do. "It was during the run from 
San Francisco to Honolulu that I saw 
several Plovers in the water resting. 
When the steamer came too near 
they would rise with a few flaps 
of their wings, but, being very tired, 
they would soon settle back into 
the water again. In its efforts to get 
away one of them came on board and 
it lived for some time. I always 
thought the birds made a continuous 
flight of over 2,000 miles, but I am now 
satisfied that they rest on the waves 
when tired." 
The flight of a flock of Golden Plov- 
ers is described by Goss as swift and 
strong, sweeping over the prairies in a 
compact, wavy form, at times skim- 
ming close to the ground, then high in 
the air; an everchanging, circling course, 
whistling as they go; and on alighting 
raising their wings until the tips nearly 
touch, then slowly folding them back, a 
habit which is quite common with them 
as they move about the ground. 
Plovers eat Grasshoppers, Beetles, and 
many forms of insect life; small berries 
are also a part of their diet. 
Mr. Nelson, in his "Report Upon 
Natural History Collections in Alaska," 
gives a full and interesting account of 
their nesting-habits. He says the court- 
ship of this handsome bird is carried on 
very quietly, and there is no demon- 
stration of anger or quarreling among 
the rivals. When two are satisfactorily 
mated they quietly go about their nest- 
ing, after which each pair limits its 
range to the immediate vicinity of its 
treasures. The eggs are deposited the 
latter part of May in a small depression 
among the moss and dried grass of a 
small knoll, and at times a slight struc- 
ture is made of dried grass. Four eggs 
are laid, of a pale yellowish ground 
color, with very dark, well-defined um- 
ber brown spots scattered profusely 
over the shell. 
Golden Plovers on the ground, 
See them rise, and fly, and sing; 
Where before was not a sound 
Now the very echoes ring. 
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